New Poll Shows Arizona Voters Support Funding Education, But In Moderation

By Holliday Moore
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
Published: Thursday, August 8, 2019 - 10:38am
Updated: Wednesday, August 21, 2019 - 8:15am

A new statewide survey shows Arizona voters support funding education, but in moderation and with "results-based funding" tied to academic performance.

The Data Orbital survey also found wide support for Gov. Doug Ducey has recently approved education plan boosting teacher salaries an average of 20% by 2020.

Although voters surveyed supported raising the state sales tax from 0.06 of a cent to a full penny, their willingness faded for increasing property taxes.

Garrick Taylor with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce said it tells him, "Voters are willing to explore additional revenues into the K-12 system."

However, he said there are limits to that.

"Voters expect results and they're not willing to write a blank check," Taylor said. "Proponents of additional funding for K-12 need to take voter sentiment into consideration, especially if it means going to the ballot."

Of the 550 people asked in the telephone poll 57.7% supported the sales tax hike proposal, but critics warn that plan falls far short of restoring the money borrowed from Arizona's education budget during the recession.

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