PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation Friday that will give voters the last word on whether to tap state trust proceeds to boost education funds.
The plan is designed to give schools an immediate cash infusion and guarantee annual increases to cushion against inflation. Ducey, who was instrumental in crafting the deal, said it sends a strong message about the value Arizona puts on education.
“To our teachers, we know your worth,” he said. “We have immense respect and regard for the work you do for our kids, our schools and our communities,” the governor continued. “With this plan, you will have the resources you’ve been asking for.”
But David Lewis of the Association of School Business Officials cautioned against thinking the $3.5 billion, decade-long deal solves all of the education issues.
“This is not the answer of all of the funding issues within the state,” he said.
“This was one very specific issue,” Lewis explained, dealing with the question of state compliance with a 2000 voter-approved mandate to boost aid to schools annually. “And I think it’s very important that we remember that because there are so many other things we’ll hear about, there’s so many other areas that need to be addressed.”
Arizona Education Association President Andrew Morrill, whose organization sued the state in 2010, acknowledged it’s less than what schools asked for and even less than a trial judge said they are entitled to get. But he agreed that it’s a deal worth taking.
And Tim Ogle of the Arizona School Boards Association said accepting this deal made more sense than pursuing the lawsuit.
“Our students and our districts need money now,” he said. “That was the underlying principle that led us to today.”
Friday’s action is not the last word.
The plan is contingent on voter approval of the package at a special election set for May 17. What remains to be seen is whether any of the Democrats who voted against it will urge its rejection.
During Senate floor debate just hours earlier, Democrat lawmakers said some provisions are unacceptable. That includes what they said is an unnecessary “raid” on the trust fund, as the state has money in the bank.
In the floor debate, Republicans who control both the House and Senate beat back other Democrat proposals. Those ranged from providing even more dollars for schools to eliminating a provision that, beginning in 2025, would allow lawmakers to actually cut aid to schools.
But the most heated exchanges came over charges by Republicans that Democrats — and the media — were painting an unfair picture of the state of education.
Senate President Andy Biggs lashed out at complaints that Arizona has cut more from education than any other state. He said 31 states have cut per-student funding since 2008.
And Biggs said lawmakers have restored some of those dollars.
“It is simply inaccurate to perpetuate the narrative that every year, for the last five years, Arizona has cut spending,” Biggs said.
Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson, conceded that, in actual dollars, education funding has increased. But he said Arizona continues to fall behind.
“We have not increased funding for education at a rate we needed to to keep up with student enrollment and inflation growth,” he said, with Arizona school enrollment growing at the second-fastest rate in the nation.
Farley put Arizona’s per-student funding at last in the nation. Biggs responded by citing figures he said puts the state at No. 49.
“I know it’s not much,” he said. “But 49th is not last.”
And Biggs argued there should be less focus on funding and more on what Arizona schools are doing with that money they are getting.
“I understand we have great achievement,” Farley responded.
“We’re doing amazing things with very, very little. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be giving them more and see how they excel beyond any other state.”
And Farley said there are implications for being at the bottom.
“If we want to encourage our teachers who are doing brilliant things to stay, we’re going to have to pay them what they’re worth,” he said.
And Farley said some businesses have refused to relocate here “simply because the education system was not what they wanted it to be.”
Biggs said that’s not true.
“Explain that to Apple, explain that to the big businesses that come here,” he said. And he said that, even with the low funding, Arizona schools outperform those in many other states.
“This is the positive narrative that should be said in this state,” Biggs said. And he said if there is a “cloud” over the state’s education system, it’s not being put there by Republicans.
“It is by people who wish to have a negative narrative,” he said.
“I’m not saying everything’s roses,” Biggs continued. “What I am saying is, there’s a lot to say good about our state and our state education.”
His complaints about foes of the package continued when the governor allowed him to speak at the bill-signing ceremony.
“There are those who cannot take a victory with a smile,” Biggs said, invoking a key character from “Winnie the Pooh.”
“There are Eeyores in our state who see nothing but rain falling upon them and a tail stapled to their bottom with a tack,” he said. “But the reality is, this is a sunny day, a day to be grateful to be in Arizona.”
Approval of the package leaves Democrats with the question of whether to urge voters to support what they decried as a flawed plan. House Minority Leader Eric Meyer said he hopes there can be changes before the vote.
“And if there’s not, we’re kind of in a tough spot,” he said.
“Our classroom teachers, our students, they need the dollars,” said Meyer. “It’s going to be hard to say no.”
There was one last-minute change in the deal.
With the election not until May, it could be impossible for schools to use their first infusion this school year. Lawmakers agreed to allow schools who cannot use the new funds before this fiscal year ends June 30 to carry them forward into the next school year.
