Arizona Voters Boost Public Education

Public education won big in Arizona last night with the overwhelming approval of Proposition 100, a temporary one-cent sales tax to protect funding for critical public services. Proposition 100 will raise the state’s current sales tax of 5.6 cents on the dollar to 6.6 cents for three years, starting June 1, and generating about $1 billion annually. Two-thirds of the new revenue will go to public primary and secondary education and one-third will go to health and human services and public safety programs.

Arizona residents voted for the measure by a 64-36 margin.

The campaign for Proposition 100 assembled a coalition of diverse supporters. In addition to the Arizona Education Association (AEA), the measure was championed by Governor Jan Brewer, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and various business groups,  and the Arizona Medical Association.

AEA President John Wright said that while it was not an ideal solution, the measure at least presented critical funding at  a precarious time. Arizona schools had already absorbed deep cuts in 2009 and per-pupil spending in the state is among the lowest in the nation.

Proponents warned that without this new revenue infusion, as much as 20 percent of all public education could be cut, resulting in tens of thousands of job cuts. School officials said rejection of the tax increase would produce larger class sizes, reductions in specialized instruction and layoffs and furloughs for teachers and other school workers. The Yes on 100 campaign aggressively pushed this message in its media campaign.

Wright said voters understood the consequences of the measure’s defeat  but cautioned that viable, long term solutions need to be found.

“It is necessary. What you’re really talking about is maintaining the quality of life while we look for some structural improvements to the overall revenue generation in our state. We’ve got to protect our schools.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5R52LD-on8[/youtube]

Related posts:

1. Arizona Lawmakers Vote To Repeal Gun-Free School Zones
2. Must Reads – Arizona Immigration
3. Austerity – The Real Crisis In Public Education
4. Must Reads – Arizona Immigration Law
5. Arizona Schools Attempt to Reverse Enrollment Decline