Page 34 - The Edge - Winter 2017

CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES CONTRIBUTING ARTICLE

BY HOWARD FISCHER

Carter works on ‘grand plan’ to

enhance Arizona education funding

A veteran lawmaker is taking the rst
steps to ensure the state has enough money
to fund recommended teacher pay hikes.
And a whole lot more.
Rep. Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek,
told Capitol Media Services on December
15 she is working on a “grand plan” to
infuse major new dollars into not just K-12
education but also what she believes is an
underfunded university and community
college system. More to the point, Carter
said Arizona education needs more dollars
than anything Gov. Doug Ducey could
propose within the con nes of the state’s
existing revenue stream. “We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to
“I think it’s time for us to have big, bold
conversations about what the next steps attract and retain the best and the brightest teachers in all of our
are for education in Arizona,” she said.
Carter acknowledged generating the classrooms, from early childhood to the university.”
kind of money she and other legislators — Rep. Heather Carter, R-Cave Creek
believe is necessary will require major new
tax revenues. A one-cent increase in the state’s 5.6 percent sales tax compared with $58,064 nationally. With more than 12,000 teachers
rate would generate about $1 billion a year. in Arizona, bringing the average here up to the national gure
e idea of a big tax hike could run into opposition from Ducey could cost as much as $750 million.
who won election in 2014 on a promise of proposing tax cuts every State Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas was
year he is in o ce. But his feelings may be irrelevant. a bit more conservative in her own recommendations issued last
Carter said the only way Arizona has historically made month: $140 million in new money for each of the next three years.
signi cant increases in education funding is by taking the issue Douglas said without new funding, the state is stuck with a system
directly to voters, a move that bypasses the governor. And she said where 20 percent of new teachers leave in the rst year and another
her plan is no exception. 20 percent quit the second year.
With approval of her colleagues, that could put the issue on the Carter said she not only wants more money overall for teachers
ballot in 2018 – if not earlier at a special election. but a special stipend for “high-performing teachers.”
Carter said some details are being worked out. But she stressed “We want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to
that a key component will be new dollars for teacher pay – a key attract and retain the best and the brightest teachers in all of our
issue the governor’s Classrooms First Initiative Council said needs classrooms, from early childhood to the university,” she said.
attention but had no recommendations on how to get the dollars. Carter said she can make the case for more funding.
And there’s something else: Carter also wants to ask voters to “When we’re looking at attracting more business to Arizona and
continue a six-tenths of a cent sales tax hike they approved in 2000 providing the supports for the businesses who are already here to
earmarked for teacher salaries and other education needs. at levy continue to grow and thrive, all roads lead to a highly quali ed,
– and the $600 million a year it generates – self-destructs in 2021 educated workforce,” she said.
unless renewed. Carter said the findings of council members will help
Ducey, for his part, is in no particular hurry, saying there is smooth the way for what she intends to propose, even without
plenty of time to deal with that issue. recommendations for a funding source.
e hot-button item appears to be teacher salaries. “ eir work over the last two years has set the foundation for
According to the most recent figures from the National what we need to do next,” she said.
Education Association, average teacher pay in Arizona is at $45,477,

34 THE EDGE WINTER 2017
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