Arizona Education Network

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Budget Drama Continues as Schools Begin for AZ Families ~ 8/14/09

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Is this record broken?
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If you’re just now returning to our program following those long last nights in June, you’ll likely feel as though the entire process has been paused as if anticipating your return. Welcome back. We’ve missed you. Sadly, not much has changed since we last met.
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In the midst of the protracted state budget drama, Arizona families are sending their children back to school. Since early spring of 2009, schools have been preparing their operating budgets based on worst case scenarios. But their “worst” appears to be the ”best” they could have hoped for. Unfortunately, we were afraid of this.
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Wednesday, the Senate approved bills which include cuts to education, changes to education policy, and the permanent repeal of the State Equalization Property tax (which funds $250 million a year towards education).
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After Wednesday’s Senate nail-biter, your AEN team was ready and waiting for the 1 PM start of Thursday’s Senate session. Pens were poised, ears waiting for the sound of the Senate coming to order. At approximately 1:15 PM, we were underway! Gavel, prayer, pledge, points of personal privilege. A motion to reconsider HB 2015 (more on that below), motion seconded. Motion to adjourn until Monday at 1 PM, motion seconded. Senate adjourned. Gavel.
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Wait! What???
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Per Thursday afternoon’s article in the Arizona Republic (see ”Both sides still won’t budge on budget” below), Senate Majority Whip, Steve Pierce (LD1) stated Governor Brewer has urged legislators to “sit on the bills over the weekend,” though the governor’s office denies it.
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Filter-free moment: Your AEN team is almost at the point where exercising great restraint is nearly impossible.

Both the House and the Senate are scheduled to return on Monday, August 17th at 1 PM. First up for the Senate: HB 2015 . This hotly contested bill would allow, among many things, the 1-cent sales tax to be placed on the November 3rd ballot. It failed Wednesday by a vote of 14-11; 16 was the magic number needed to pass. The solo point of business during Thursday’s Senate session was the motion made by Senator Jim Waring (LD 7) to reconsider HB 2015; though he reassured Senate members that his motion did not mean he planned to change his “No” vote.
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Also uncertain at this time is the fate of the State Equalization Property Tax, which has been suspended since 2006, and if allowed to come back could mean as much as $250 million in needed education funding for Arizona’s schools. Monday, counties will reinstate this tax.  
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So we can expect that $250 million in education funds?
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Don’t hold your breath. Your AEN team (and other legislative hounds following this latest development) suspect the legislature will simply craft an amendment or “clause” that would allow the repeal to be retroactively instated, meaning counties would have to refund any funds collected in between the time the tax came back and the time the legislation became law.
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So where does that leave Arizona?
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As it stands now, the sales tax failed the Senate, and the same budget Governor Brewer vetoed before is headed back to her desk.  Only it’s a little bit worse, if that’s even possible. Arizona: Where the impossible is possible (like say, conquering the space/time continuum through the legislative stealth of simply removing the clock from the Senate floor as the July 1st deadline came and went without a budget).
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Specifically, the budget bills that have passed and are on their way back to Governor Brewer’s desk will have the following impact on education:
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…..–$102 million in inflation dollars that a bi-partisan vote funded on July 6th: GONE
…..–$175 million in soft capital reductions, (textbooks, technology, library resources, instructional aids, etc — funding that hasn’t increased …….since 1998): GONE
…..–$80 million in utility funds to cover the 2008 formula for “Excess Utilities”: GONE
…..–Career ladder funding: REDUCED AND New teachers: INELIGIBLE
…..–$250 million in State Equalization Tax revenue: GONE
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For all you policy wonks out there, check this out. JLBC (Joint Legislative Budget Committee) has ”crunched” the numbers of the current budget proposal and has found that using the same numbers will still maintain a deficit into the 2013 budget. In fact, it will grow to $3 BILLION! To review the figures, click on JLBC 2009-2013 Balance Sheet.

What can YOU do TODAY?
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If you haven’t called your elected representatives and/or Governor Brewer, DO SO NOW! Contact information can be located under the AEN’s “Legislature & Governor” tab.
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IF you have been following our posts and have acted upon a previous call to action, we thank you…and ask that you call them AGAIN! We are of the opinion that the calls are working. Every day they hear from you is another day they are reminded that this budget, as it stands now, will have serious consequences for Arizona’s future.  And that YOU, the voters, are paying attention to their actions.
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Running out things to say?
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Share with our state leaders just what you’re finding as you and your children return to school:

• How large are the classes compared to previous years?
• How many teachers are gone?
• What enrichment activities have been cut in your school?
• How many critical programs has your school had to cut?
• Has your school district cut programs and teachers so extensively that they are considering shortening the school day, as Sierra Vista Unified School District has?
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Take time TODAY to call your elected representatives and tell them you support public education and YOU VOTE!
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Related News & AEN Articles
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Arizona Legislature Nixes Sales Tax Increase ~ Hank Behar, Convenience Store News, 8/14/09
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Arizona’s budget-balancing plan goes back to House ~ Jacques Billeaud (AP writer), FOX11AZ.com
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Budget impasse allows property tax to return ~ Howard Fischer, East Valley Tribune, 8/13/09
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Both sides still won’t budge on budget ~ Mary Jo Pitzl, Arizona Republic, 8/13/09
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Senators vote to send budget back to Brewer ~ Daniel Scarpinato, AZ Daily Star, 8/13/09
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State’s high court weighs in on bills held from governor ~ Matthew Benson, Arizona Republic, 8/13/09
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Tax burden transfers to homeowner ~ Bud Foster, KOLD News 13, 8/13/09
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Budget to Pass Senate Today? Your Questions Answered ~ Arizona Education Network, 8/10/09
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Shorter school day for SV kids ~ Adam Curtis, SV Herald, 7/30/09
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Budget Watch: Current & Breaking July 1, 2009 ~ Arizona Education Network, 6/29/09 – 7/01/09
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State leaders spare selves budget cuts ~ Mary Jo Pitzl, Arizona Republic, 6/20/09
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