Howard Fischer PHOENIX — Calling it a"ticking time bomb," Gov. Katie Hobbs on Monday told lawmakers they need to override Arizona's education spending limit — and soon.
"These everyday items add up and we can, and should, help provide this relief to individuals and families who too often must choose between paying their bills or paying for the things they need to be healthy," the governor said. Unkept promise for school fundingLast year lawmakers finally restored the cuts they had made to balance the state budget in prior years. At the same time, COVID resulted in fewer students in school, all of which put the allocated funds above that funding allocation cap.
"It is unnecessary to allow these hysterics to go on any longer," she said."Let's give our students, our teachers, and our parents the assurance that schools will remain open."And Hobbs gave a shout-out to Rep. David Cook, R-Globe, who already has introduced a resolution"to override this outdated limit."
School vouchers too costlyHobbs also took a swat at the decision by the Republican-controlled legislature last session, ratified by former governor Doug Ducey, to create a system of universal vouchers allowing any student to use taxpayer money to attend private or parochial schools. That is a far cry from the system that was set up more than a decade ago, when vouchers were meant solely for students with special needs.
"This approach has largely benefited only schools in high-wealth areas of Arizona's two largest counties, Maricopa and Pima, while leaving rural and economically struggling areas behind," Hobbs said. She wants to redirect the $68.6 million in this program to instead be divided equally among all schools."One in four teachers leave Arizona schools each year, which is the highest rate in the nation,'' she said. And that, said Hobbs underlines the real problem.
Higher Property taxes, for teacher and Arizona to increased funding for illegals in K-12 and free higher education. (Community Colleges) On a side note, fight the approved 15 week Abortion statute. Nothing about Jobs, inflation and border security.