Arizona Education Network

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July 1, 2009  – AEN Interviews Tom Horne, Superintendent of Public Education
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In the wake of Governor Brewer’s veto of the education portion of the budget, Arizona Education Network contacted AZ State Superintendent Tom Horne for his comments on the impact of the veto on public education in Arizona.

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Mr. Horne told AEN that there was no immediate impact on public schools since the $600M payment to public schools (including charter) was made today.  Superintendent Horne went on to say that there would be a major impact on public education if there is no education budget by July 15th.
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On July 15th, $300 million is to be paid to public schools and $60 million is to be paid to public charter schools.  These payments will not be paid if there is no education budget agreement.  The superintendent voiced particular concern for charter schools if this occurs since they have no funds to fall back on.  He said that many public school districts would have excess funds at the county–though not all districts–that could be used to fall back on.

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When asked if he was involved in the education funding negotiations at the capital, he said he had no involvement.

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He stated that the lack of a state education budget is particularly vexing for Arizona school districts.  Districts cannot finish their own budget process until they know what the state will be allocating.  This is particularly problematic since districts are required to file their budgets with the state in early July.  While Mr. Horne said he was willing to delay filing in light of the lack of an education budget from the state, he was uncertain whether reporting requirements were statutory.  If reporting requirements are statutory, he would have no leeway to allow for a delay in reporting from the districts.  We asked if this would mean that districts would have to “guess” at a budget?  He said he just didn’t know at this point as this is unprecedented.

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AEN thanks Superintendent Horne for talking with us at the end of what had to be a stressful day.

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Update July 2, 2009 Interview with Dr. Mary Kamerzell, Board Member of ASA

AEN spoke to Dr. Mary Kamerzell, Board Member of the Arizona School Administrators (and Superintendent of Catalina Foothills District), about the statutory filing requirements of district budgets with the state.  She confirmed that the reporting is statutory and that school districts will be required to submit their budgets to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE).  In order to fullfill the statutory requirements, school districts will have to approve a budget by July 5 and post it for ten days within their own district.  It then has to pass final approval by July 15th and be uploaded to ADE by July 18th.  Therefore districts will have to file a budget and amend it after the legislature makes its final budget decisions on funding education.

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