Like the old song says:
“We’re in the money,
We’re in the money;
We’ve got a lot of what it takes to get along!”
Last month, the state brought in $84.4 million more in revenue than it expected. That’s after an equally unexpected $66.1 million extra in October. Add them together and you get a $150.5 million windfall over two months. Wow.
It’s time for Governor Ducey to hold a press conference. I suggest he wear a Santa hat on his head and a big grin on his face. If he’s into theatrics, he can have a goodie bag slung over his shoulder as well. His opening statement: “I have a Christmas gift for all the children of Arizona. I’m committing any unexpected revenue the state receives to furthering their educations. If there are any Scrooges in the legislature who disagree with me [pulls a candy-cane shaped pen out of his pocket], I’m telling them right now, I will use this pen to veto any budget that doesn’t include a sizable funding hike for education.”
That pronouncement, I’m sure, will make Ducey feel so good, he’ll decide to forego tax breaks for his rich buddies and devote his energies to bringing Arizona up from the per student spending cellar—that’s where the lumps of coal we’ve been handing out to our children for too many years are stored—and into the cozy family room filled with warmth and good cheer, where every adult loves every child and wants nothing more than to make their present and future days brighter.
It’s such a lovely holiday dream, so in keeping with the spirit of giving. I expect to be jarred awake soon, but for now, I’m cherishing the moment.
This article appears in Dec 17-23, 2015.
Why would you give more money to charter schools when you constantly complain about accountability and fraud?
Mr. Safier: With all due respect, the generally second rate System of Public Education in Arizona will NOT improve by allocating additional Revenue to Public Education; wasting Public Monies on a broken System. Our System of Public Education is in need of a reorganization: Rigorous Academic Standards/Assessments aligned to National Academic Standards/Assessments, the fastidious implementation of Arizona Revised Statue 15-841, and Teacher/Administrator accountability as determined by patterns of Student Academic Assessment so as to ensure that Students are provided with the Skills necessary to achieve their career goals.
He would rather go with the tried and true, “No taxpayer with a behind left.” It was a Ted Kennedy plan.
It’s going to go to business in the way of tax cuts (Ducey ran on that), and as another windfall to the private prison industry, UNLESS we make sure our voices are heard in telling the governor and the legislature that being LAST in education in the country is NOT ACCEPTABLE! You can sit back and hope things change (sigh), or you can DO something about it.
Reform and accountability and results and a 5-10 plan (without outside paid consultants) before anymore money.
Why anyone would think that throwing money at a problem school, or district, would make a difference does not know recent history, and are the very definition of the word, ignorant.
http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-zuckerbergs-failed-100-million-donation-to-newark-public-schools-2015-9
I can tell you what kind of grin DUCEY has on his face! Haven’t you heard the gang in the Governor’s office has two main goals for legislative action next month. Increasing funding for Charter Schools and new funds for building and capital improvements to existing charter schools. Constitutional NO, but they will figure out a back door!
Meanwhile the Democrats in Pima County are having secret meetings to cleanse the County Precinct organization and require all current elected party officials to resign. The new County Chair thinks the way to “reorganize” is to have by invitation only PC meetings around the county to plot out and fan more discontent within the party headquarters and diminishing ranks of precinct workers and volunteers. General Election years are usually the time when the ranks of the party grow, not this year. The new party chair hasn’t even woke up to the fact currently elected PCs are so disgusted they wouldn’t even show for the special election for the replacement of the resigned chair. Important Democrat party stalwarts and elected officials are standing back hoping that the mess and muddy waters left by the resigned chair and continued to be stirred by the new chair and her supporters will go away by the Special Election in May.
Pima County won’t be in the fight opposing the DUCEY “Land Trust Funds” robbery. More than hurt feelings are at stake with the shake up within the Pima County Democrat party organization.
hakeson, since you began your comment on topic, I’m leaving it up. But your excursion into Pima County Democratic politics is way off topic. Please stay somewhere near the subject of my post.
Gee, there is enough state money to restore funding to Pima Community College thereby preparing people for jobs!
The Governor would be a fool to add funding to the public schools. Hillary Clinton announced yesterday that she will close all public schools that are “not better than average.”
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/12/22/hillary-clintons-education-plan-shut-down-schools-not-doing-better-than-average-job/
David:
Of course Ducey won’t do what’s needed to support public schools – either by funding them instead of giving money to charters and corporations via tax breaks, OR by doing something else that’s also necessary to ensure their proper functioning, something you never mention: investigating constituents’ complaints and providing enough responsible oversight to ensure they are governed and administered in a responsible fashion. We need better leadership at the state level before anything will change for the better in the overall quality of public education (districts AND charters) in Arizona. The state is a negligent parent vis a vis public schools: it neither provides the support nor the course-correction needed for these institutions under its “care” to thrive.
Hakeson:
Thank you for that worthwhile and interesting information, which seems to me to be directly related to the topic of David’s post. (In a context in which we have such poor leadership at the state level, it is unfortunate indeed that our own party is in such disarray, disabling our ability to win voter confidence and provide an effective counter to the state-level malfeasance.)
It’s a shame that David has taken to policing his comment streams and deleting comments lately. He’s a smart guy, you’d think he would appreciate other smart and well-informed Baja-Arizona residents taking the time and trouble to read his blogs and contribute feedback and opinions. It’s discouraging to see him rapping constructive contributors on the knuckles and sometimes deleting their comments. (Another sign of the problems in the party, perhaps? Attempts to silence those who refer to problems or deviate from the party line (or strictly-interpreted blog-topic-of-the-day) may be understandable in a context where things seem to be spinning out of control, but they are ultimately not helpful, not constructive, and personally I’m pretty certain that David is capable of a better and more generous response to the difficult political situation in our state and metro region.)
“hakeson, since you began your comment on topic, I’m leaving it up. But your excursion into Pima County Democratic politics is way off topic. Please stay somewhere near the subject of my post. by David Safier.”
If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to censor. Is Censorship and suppression of freedom of speech the new “democratic” party narrative?
Would you allow an excursion into Pima County Republican politics without note and threat of future censorship?
Do you see how this works David? Please don’t treat this forum as part of your “Safe Space”.
Really great news and return the money to all taxpayers.
Gov Ducey strikes me as an opportunist, so let’s see what he does with this opportunity. He also strikes me as someone who wants to jump up the ladder as quickly as possible. Let’s see.