Senator calls school budget cuts ‘a complete fallacy’
By Linda Bentley | October 28, 2009
We’ve heard the fevered pitch of school districts crying for more money in the way of overrides to offset “massive budget cuts.”
However, according to Sen. Jack Harper, R-Surprise, “It’s a complete fallacy. There were no public education cuts this year.”
Harper says not only did Gov. Jan Brewer veto education cuts; school districts are receiving additional funds in the way of federal stimulus money.
An article titled “School districts betting heavily on upcoming overrides” appeared in Arizona Capitol Times last Friday, which stated, “A number of state lawmakers said a refusal to compromise and examine the realities of the modern classroom – including inflationary costs and declining enrollment – have forced districts to reach out to voters.”
“Declining enrollment” is an interesting argument to back up a request for more money and perhaps something to ponder at the polls on Tuesday.