Proposed Budget Cuts for Arizona Public Education January 28, 2009

Who Proposed These Cuts? Senator Russell Pearce (R-Mesa) Representative John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees

Senator Russell Pearce (R-Mesa)

Representative John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills)

Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees

Proposals Almost $1 billion in cuts to the public education budget for FY2009 and FY2010 Phase out Career Ladder over 8 years beginning 2010-2011 Eliminate all-day kindergarten Cut soft capital by $98M in FY2009 and eliminate it entirely in FY2010 Reduce “lump sum” payments to districts by $220 million (10% cut)

Almost $1 billion in cuts to the public education budget for FY2009 and FY2010

Phase out Career Ladder over 8 years beginning 2010-2011

Eliminate all-day kindergarten

Cut soft capital by $98M in FY2009 and eliminate it entirely in FY2010

Reduce “lump sum” payments to districts by $220 million (10% cut)

Current Funding Arizona is ranked 49 th out of 50 states in per-pupil funding. Source: http://ftp2.census.gov/govs/school/06f33pub.pdf and http://www.edweek.org/rc/2007/06/07/edcounts.html

Arizona is ranked 49 th out of 50 states in per-pupil funding.

Historic Funding Source: http://www.edweek.org/rc/2007/06/07/edcounts.html GAP: $2,851 GAP: $1,195

Attitude of Arizona Leaders Prior to developing options to address the shortfall, Chairmen asked only two questions : How much and where has spending grown over the last 5 years? What is the impact of voter protection on spending? Source: http://www.azleg.gov/jlbc/AppropsBudgetOptions011509.pdf

Prior to developing options to address the shortfall, Chairmen asked only two questions :

How much and where has spending grown over the last 5 years?

What is the impact of voter protection on spending?

Attitude of Arizona Leaders “I am not willing to raise taxes on families or businesses, as they are already over taxed and over regulated. … The problem has been over spending not a lack of dollars.” - Senator Pearce Source: http:// www.russellpearce.com

“I am not willing to raise taxes on families or businesses, as they are already over taxed and over regulated. … The problem has been over spending not a lack of dollars.”

- Senator Pearce

Attitude of Arizona Businesses 38% of Arizona small businesses identified having a “skilled workforce” as “critical” to their business success , second only to healthcare costs (at 42%). An additional 34% of respondents identified the need for a skilled workforce as “important.” Source: http://www.oneilresearch.com/publicdomain/aeim/AEIM_Critical_Issues_Q3_2008.pdf

38% of Arizona small businesses identified having a “skilled workforce” as “critical” to their business success , second only to healthcare costs (at 42%). An additional 34% of respondents identified the need for a skilled workforce as “important.”

Attitude of Arizona Citizens A 2008 O’Neil Associates survey showed that even in our current budget crisis, 66% of Arizonans want to spend more on K-12 education , more than any other budget area surveyed. Only 3% think we should spend less on K-12 education. Source: http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2009/01/12/opinion/columnists/guest_opinion/doc4967a2d29f854441030722.txt

A 2008 O’Neil Associates survey showed that even in our current budget crisis, 66% of Arizonans want to spend more on K-12 education , more than any other budget area surveyed. Only 3% think we should spend less on K-12 education.

Attitude of the Citizens According to a December 2008 survey by Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, almost 600 Tucson business leaders ranked funding for K-12 and higher education as their top priority , even further ahead than tax cuts. About 77% of respondents agree that “Arizona needs to make significant new investments in educational achievement to meet real needs and avoid a crisis.” Sources: http://explorernews.com/articles/2009/01/07/business/doc4963e915289a3313625510.txt and http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/altss/printstory/frontpage/106176

According to a December 2008 survey by Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, almost 600 Tucson business leaders ranked funding for K-12 and higher education as their top priority , even further ahead than tax cuts. About 77% of respondents agree that “Arizona needs to make significant new investments in educational achievement to meet real needs and avoid a crisis.”

Attitude of the Citizens “ When legislators talk about how they’ll prioritize … they’re still talking about cuts in economic development tools, cuts in funding for education … everything we’re saying is the most important seems to be targeted for the biggest cuts .” - Laura Shaw, TREO senior vice president for corporate and community affairs Sources: http://explorernews.com/articles/2009/01/07/business/doc4963e915289a3313625510.txt and http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/altss/printstory/frontpage/106176

“ When legislators talk about how they’ll prioritize … they’re still talking about cuts in economic development tools, cuts in funding for education … everything we’re saying is the most important seems to be targeted for the biggest cuts .”

- Laura Shaw, TREO senior vice president for corporate and community affairs

At the Rally Between 1,500 and 2,000 people showed up at the state capitol on Sunday, January 25 to voice their concern about the proposed budget cuts. Source: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/01/25/20090125edprotest0126.html

Between 1,500 and 2,000 people showed up at the state capitol on Sunday, January 25 to voice their concern about the proposed budget cuts.

Speakers Included Representative Rich Crandall R-Mesa Education Committee Chair Senator Rebecca Rios D-Apache Junction Assistant Senate Minority Leader

Representative Rich Crandall

R-Mesa

Education Committee Chair

Senator Rebecca Rios

D-Apache Junction

Assistant Senate Minority Leader

Message These are only proposals made by two legislators with no input from other members. Many legislators have children in public schools and do support education. There is doubt that the proposed cuts will pass in their entirety.

These are only proposals made by two legislators with no input from other members.

Many legislators have children in public schools and do support education.

There is doubt that the proposed cuts will pass in their entirety.

Message Private conversations with Governor Brewer indicate support for education. The federal stimulus package may provide significant assistance for our education budget. The turnout at the rally was among the best they’d ever seen.

Private conversations with Governor Brewer indicate support for education.

The federal stimulus package may provide significant assistance for our education budget.

The turnout at the rally was among the best they’d ever seen.

But … There is an urgency among legislative leaders to pass a budget ASAP … possibly by February 1 . Legislators need to hear from their constituents now to ensure these cuts get scaled back or defeated.

There is an urgency among legislative leaders to pass a budget ASAP … possibly by February 1 .

Legislators need to hear from their constituents now to ensure these cuts get scaled back or defeated.

What Can I Do? E-mail your legislators Call your legislators Spread the word

E-mail your legislators

Call your legislators

Spread the word

How Can I Do It? Visit www.chandlerea.org Visit www.speakupnowaz.org Learn talking points Find contact information for your legislators

Visit www.chandlerea.org

Visit www.speakupnowaz.org

Learn talking points

Find contact information for your legislators