Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/279010
AEA Advocate x Summer 2014 33 AT THE CAPITOL Override Bills Senator Yarbrough sponsored a bill that would have severely impacted school district overrides. SB1182, as introduced, would only allow school boards to ask for an override continuation once, as well as prohibit a district from providing factual information on the cost and purpose of the override or bond. This means school districts would only get one shot at passing their override before its expiration. At a time when school districts are struggling from the $1 billion in cuts the Arizona Legislature has made since 2008 to the state's education budget, overrides provide school districts an opportunity to get additional financial support from their local communities. It would be similar to telling legislators they only had one opportunity to pass a bill and, once it failed, they couldn't bring that bill back for a reconsideration vote. School district overrides provide an important source of funding for Arizona's schools by supplementing the underfunded state education budget. Several business groups supported this bill, including the Arizona Tax Research Association, Grand Canyon State Electric Coop Association, Salt River Project, Arizona Public Service Company, Tucson Electric Power Company, Southwest Gas, NAIOP, Arizona Free Enterprise Club, and the National Federation of Independent Business. Corporations in Arizona lobbied for and received corporate tax incentives when Arizona's economy was in recession and the public education budget was cut. Now that the state's economy is in recovery, Arizona corporations are lobbying for further reduction of school district revenue. Fortunately, this bill was significantly amended on the Senate floor to remove the prohibition on districts going back out for a bond or override after an initial defeat. The bill now relates to the purpose statement in the publicity pamphlet being only factual information in a neutral manner. Advocacy for the expenditures is strictly limited to the arguments submitted. This bill passed the Senate on February 27 along party lines with Republicans in support and Democrats in opposition. The bill goes to the House next. SB1254 proposed an even bigger threat. This bill, sponsored by Senator Chester Crandell, would have prohibited school districts from going out for a bond or override except for in an election on an even-numbered year. Currently, school districts are permitted to do so each November election. This bill was defeated in the Senate on February 20 by a vote of 13 ayes (Barto, Biggs, Burges, Crandell, D. Farnsworth, Griffin, Melvin, Murphy, S. Pierce, Shooter, Ward, Yarbrough, and Yee) to 16 nays (Ableser, Begay, Bradley, Cajero Bedford, Dalessandro, Driggs, Farley, Gallardo, Hobbs, McComish, McGuire, Meza, Pancrazi, Reagan, Tovar, and Worsley). The Fight for Funding Thanks to the AEA, our public schools saw an increase in funding for the first time since 2008 as a result of winning a lawsuit challenging the Arizona Legislature's failure to fully fund the base level inflation factor. This funding plan was created in Proposition 301, which was passed through the massive campaign efforts of AEA members and staff in 2000, and directs the legislature to annually increase the base level for K-12 public school funding. The Arizona Legislature disregarded this voter mandate for several legislative sessions, resulting in a loss of nearly $300 million toward the education of Arizona's public school students. AEA, its members, leaders, and staff, are collectively fighting for our students and our profession in this state. We are lobbying, advocating, protesting, marching, phone banking, canvassing, and organizing for quality public education for every child because we believe it is a mission worth fighting for. These are victories that came about through the actions of AEA members belonging to their professional association. We need every public education supporter and school employee to join our fight if we are going to win. Sign up for the AEA Legislative Update on the AEA website to get weekly updates on legislative news and how you can take action on bills. Encourage your colleagues to join the fight and AEA online at nea.org/JoinNEA. Get involved with your local association and take action at the district level. Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead said it best: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." 2 Summer.14advo.indd 33 3/14/14 2:58 PM