Arizona Education Association

Spring 2014

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AEA Advocate x Spring 2014 7 AT THE CAPITOL Governor's Budget Permanently Cuts Nearly $240 Million from Arizona Schools Governor Brewer's budget makes education a low priority for Arizona by permanently cutting $239 million to school districts, despite a rebounding economy and available revenue, while at the same time raising expectations on the outcomes of Arizona's public schools. Read AEA's summary of the governor's FY14-15 education budget on our website at www.arizonaea.org/assets/ document/AZ/GovernorBudgetSummary2014. pdf. During the economic downturn, Governor Brewer and the Arizona Legislature suspended $239 million per year in funding for school soft capital and school district capital outlay budgets. These funds address ongoing, student- centered needs such as classroom materials and instructional supplies. Last year's budget combined these costs into a new formula called "district additional assistance," but remained unfunded. The Governor's budget proposes to permanently suspend this formula, which would reset the per-pupil level to a lower amount permanently in statute and erase all the funding school districts are owed by the state. "Simply put, public education is not a priority in the governor's budget," says AEA President Andrew F. Morrill. "During the economic recession, Governor Brewer signed budgets that cut over $1 billion in education funding and now that the economy is recovering, her budget does not restore these Arizona Retirement Security Coalition Teachers, firefighters, paramedics, and other dedicated public servants are under attack in Arizona. Public employees have dedicated their lives to difficult, often dangerous jobs, and they have played by the rules. The Arizona Retirement Security Coalition (ARSC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting retirement security for Arizona working families and educating the public about the positive aspects of defined-benefit pension plans. AEA is proud to be a member of this growing grass- roots coalition. The risky non-reforms being pushed by Wall Street and its pet politicians will not help government budgets or the economy. ARSC opposes changing those rules in the middle of the game and taking away the retirement security that Arizona's working families have earned. ARSC provides the public and the media with resources, research and facts about the true cost of gutting public pension systems and the extremist agenda that's out to weaken retirement security for all Arizonans. Join us and help take a stand for the middle class. We urge you to get the facts and learn how you can fight back at by visiting www.azretirementsecurity.com. Continued on page 30 Continued on page 31 "Simply put, public education is not a priority in the governor's budget." — AEA President Andrew F. Morrill Spring.14advo.indd 7 1/28/14 5:11 PM

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