AZ Fiscal Jam Has Laid-Off Teachers in Area on Edge
Districts find it hard to plan with budget uncertain
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TUCSON-Excerpt The Arizona Daily Star, Rhonda Bodfield
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Tucson-area school districts are anxiously awaiting the final word on how the new state budget will play out — as are teachers who were laid off earlier this summer amid funding cuts.
Tucson-area school districts are anxiously awaiting the final word on how the new state budget will play out — as are teachers who were laid off earlier this summer amid funding cuts.
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That’s in part because district officials are worried about committing to new spending when the budget is a bit like playing with funny money until lawmakers find a way to actually pay for it. The budget is still at least $2.1 billion in the red. For full article, click here.
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Tags: Arizona budget, arizona education
I think these school districts are acting prudently in their caution. Unfortunately, our legislators have shown us in the past that they won’t hesitate to take money back from school districts after they’ve already given them a budget. Public schools budget very closely to the money they are alloted by the state, and don’t have much in reserves. If they had any before, after January 2009, they probably don’t anymore. They wouldn’t be able to afford another monetary recall.
I’m very upset that our elected officials in the majority party aren’t prioritizing public education. They pass enormous corporate tax cuts, that will cost the state $450M/year, in an effort to attract businesses (especially from California). But what they are not fully comprehending is that no business will move to AZ because none of their employees will want to move their families to a state that ranks 50 (or even 51) in most state-by-state comparisons of the educational rankings. As a realtor, I’ve worked with many out-of-state buyers. And once they get the news of a possible relocation, the first thing the all do is a.) look at the housing market and b.) the school system.
We are so shooting ourselves in the foot here. It’s time to get some legislators elected into office who are smarter than I am. Please.
It is the classic bait and switch. Watch out school districts. The Republican legislators will never give you the money.
Will the money really be there? I wouldn’t bet on it. 2010 can’t come fast enough…I hope the people who elected Burns & Adams are as outraged as I am!