Lawmaker: It's Time To Have Greater Vision For Education In Arizona

By Steve Goldstein
Published: Thursday, December 15, 2016 - 3:46pm
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Gov. Doug Ducey’s Classrooms First Initiative Council closed up shop this week by calling for teachers in Arizona to make more money and a school-funding system that is more “predictable and equitable.”

But the panel is leaving it up to the governor and state lawmakers to decide where that additional money would actually come from. And the governor isn’t revealing his plans just yet, saying we’ll have to wait until his State of the State Address on Jan. 9.

Republican Rep. Heather Carter thinks it’s time to have a greater vision for education in Arizona — and that would be anchored by paying teachers more.

Considering Ducey has made cutting taxes annually one of his top priorities, a revenue increase to pay for education would probably have to come with voter approval, which Carter acknowledges.

That could be a highlight of Arizona’s 2018 ballot, or it could be part of a special election.

Carter also wants to ask voters to continue a six-tenths of a cent sales tax hike they approved in 2000, as Proposition 301, specifically earmarked for teacher salaries. That increase would go away in 2021, unless it’s extended.

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