My forecast is for possibly stormy seas with the ship of education bobbing like a cork; a potentially fine vessel, yet unstable for lack of ballast. We rise too high in the face of mighty winds and swells too rambunctious for our free board to withstand. We’re taking on water. But in our quest for smooth sailing, we barely counted to 123 when the real challenge is counting to 456.
Have we secured this mighty ship; or not?
Arizona pundits will spin the narrow victory for Proposition 123 in a number of ways. But I think the real narrative must acknowledge that voters, both for and against 123, were not satisfied with their choice. It took years of mischief to make this horrid system and Proposition 123 is not the only tool in our sea chest. Are we all ready to quit sailing into head winds?
Polls clearly demonstrate that a vast majority of voters agreed that more resources for our schools are a priority. Nonetheless, that determination left the voter nearly as likely to vote aye as nay. Weird, eh? Or, perhaps not when we think about it.
Over many years, the state legislature has enacted a system of education finance so complex and so full of mischief that it utterly defeats the most earnest voter’s desire to cast an informed vote.
Candidly, I have been asked more times than I can tell you, “Dick, why should I vote for Proposition 123 and then be asked to support school bonds and overrides, too? I don’t understand.”
Perhaps it’s time to share experiences.
I suggest we offer the architects of the school finance system, the Arizona Legislature, a unique learning experience, assuming experience is the best teacher.
For the next ten years, let’s establish a budget for our schools and appropriate for those needs from the State General Fund. Pure and simple. We fix the broken air conditioners, we repair the leaks, we fund responsible teachers’ salaries, and we maintain our buildings and grounds with the same care and attention we expect of any of our public investments.
Then, we apply the school finance formula to the rest of state government. They get funded to 85% or less of their actual budgets. Directors of every state agency, and indeed the entire state government complex, would then be required to approach Arizona voters for an override authorization to complete their budgets. They don’t get to campaign using state resources and they don’t get any public money for their election needs. We invite them to go out to individual taxpayers and the business community to solicit funds to conduct their campaigns which must be waged on their own time and out of the office. If they win, they get to operate with a complete budget. If they lose, they must immediately cut 15% from their operating budget, including salaries.
And one more thing. If the state wishes to build a structure or make a capital investment, they must seek a statewide bond based on a property tax increase and get voter approval for that, too, after they inform voters of how much more this will add to the taxes on their homes and businesses.
Once these operational overrides and bonds are voter approved, state government will operate much as it does today. Perhaps then we could all appreciate the world of education finance.
Oh, and one more thing, just a thought … To keep the state legislature properly funded, a likely tough sell, may I suggest a bake sale? It might be our best shot.
Dick Foreman is the president and CEO of ABEC, the Arizona Business and Education Coalition. To contact, please send him an e-mail or leave a comment below.