Bottom line to me is if we really cared about our kids education...we wouldn't live in AZ. Even if this tax increase passes (I'm still not decided on how I will vote on it), AZ is still on hind tit with school spending compared to other states.

 

Could this be because so many Illegals get free education to boot ? Overloading the system with no extra money coming in ?

I listened to this very argument on the radio the other day.

A woman called in said it is " Americas duty to educate all kids that are already here". Her argument was Based on if illegals were not in school
they at the high school age level would forms gangs.

The Radio Jock said so if 50 million kids flooded Arizona how do we fund
all them free kids ? WHat if Kids from China and Mexico and all other
Countries Snuck into America to get free education since they do not check legal status. That is where my eyes opened

Go Sheriff Joe I Support you.

 

Hey All. I don’t normally push politics, however just returned last night from a public meeting at our children’s School where they defined the immense cutting of numerous programs. As we all know the government is cutting major funding on education and it is very prominent in my school system.

On April 15th, 35 teachers in K-8, and 44 Teachers in the High School have been given their Pink Slips for next year (this is in our district alone). They are removing full day Kindergarten and also increasing class sizes tremendously for all students. We were already among the highest in the nation; can you imagine close to 40 kids per class? They are adding more Periods to push more kids through in less time as well. They are pulling away many “elective” classes. Arts are also very important to our children’s social and reasoning development. Everything is being hit here and if Prop 100 fails it will get worse. AZ consistently rated among the rock bottom in the Nation for education and yet we are still placing even less emphasis on it or ignoring it altogether.

Our government is putting less of a priority on our kids, but we still have the ability to help. Please vote YES; it is only a penny per dollar spent and 2/3rds goes to help education. Please read more at http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/ . I currently cannot afford private school, however am truly considering taking some drastic measures as to get my two kids there…

Thanks for your help!

I will look into this bill further before I decide how to vote on it. That being said I have some thoughts.

I for one think all day kindergarten is unneccessary. I think many parents use it as a part time replacement for child care. Meaning I am paying for someone else's day car, which is wrong. I happen to think there is an OVER emphasis on electives. Yes the arts are important, but nowhere near as importan as Math, Science, and English which are virtually over-looked. Most high school graduates you see can not even complete a sentence, yet somehow graduated? 3 years of a foreign language are required to go to a state school(college), but only 2 years of American History??? Maybe if the kids nowadays learned more about what it took to make this country great they may appreciate it more, and get more involved in making sure we stay great.

JMO

 

I will look into this bill further before I decide how to vote on it. That being said I have some thoughts.

I for one think all day kindergarten is unneccessary. I think many parents use it as a part time replacement for child care. Meaning I am paying for someone else's day car, which is wrong. I happen to think there is an OVER emphasis on electives. Yes the arts are important, but nowhere near as importan as Math, Science, and English which are virtually over-looked. Most high school graduates you see can not even complete a sentence, yet somehow graduated? 3 years of a foreign language are required to go to a state school(college), but only 2 years of American History??? Maybe if the kids nowadays learned more about what it took to make this country great they may appreciate it more, and get more involved in making sure we stay great.

JMO

I can't belive I actually agree with HAMMER on something....no it can't be...HAMMER....someone is using your computer dude...make sure you log off when you leave your desk.

 

If your thinking about voting NO, just don't vote. Money goes for education and police. Major employers don't move to AZ because of our poor education system. No employees, no tax revenue. Even with the money programs will suffer. This is also the start of weeding out some of the bad teachers.

 

If your thinking about voting NO, just don't vote. Money goes for education and police. Major employers don't move to AZ because of our poor education system. No employees, no tax revenue. Even with the money programs will suffer. This is also the start of weeding out some of the bad teachers.

Wow don't know how I mised this?


Thanks but I think I'll vote no. I won't be an enabler.

 

How about decreasing the Administration of these schools. Try cutting a little dead weight and blood suckers from the body of education. All day K is a joke. Its not like we really needed it, it was baby sitting subsidized by me. I have two kids in the school system and they have asked me for handouts ever since my first child had gotten in. I usually give to those as I know where the money is going. Once again treat it like a business and make the cuts needed to function.

No new school taxes, cut the fat!!

 

Thanks "Sylvan" but as a registered voter it's my right to vote no whether you like it or not. I'm voting NO on any new tax.

 

I've got to admit that I'm leaning toward a no vote. The toll that a .0905 percent sales tax will have on my ability to make a living is the reason. I think it was Angler2010 that correct me in a post when I said it was a 1% increase. It's actually a 17.8% state tax increase if my math is correct. We are paying 5.6% state right now plus your county and city taxes. Pretty steep. Sounds like we need better management at the state level. Everytime there's a problem you just can't keep taxing people. JMHO

 

I agree, the tax increase is over 17%. The last time I looked, most of us have taken paycuts, been put on furloughs at work (more cuts in pay) and have had to tighten our belts. When was the last time YOU got a 17% raise in your paycheck? Not too often or lately I bet.

When the real estate market was booming, prices were rising, and extra tax money came into the state. The folks in our Arizona govenment just spent more money and mismanaged (IMHO) the monies they had. Now that the real estate market is down and their tax revenue is down, they should tighten their budget belts just like we have to do. They need to learn how to budget their money just like we have to do with our pay cuts and furloughs reducing our income. JMHO.

 

Shouldn't we be against throwing money at problems instead of solving them? So are we saying money is the only solution for our education problems? This will not solve dead beat parents that don't get involved with their kids no matter what system they're in. If we care about our kids, parents should be held responsible. My grandson is three and knows how to read. His parents both work and still find time to teach him and reinforce what he learns at daycare. That, btw, comes out of their pocket and not some gov. program.

 

If you want to help the education system your child attends just make a donation to that school. You can write off the donation on your tax return and you have a say on how your donation is spent. I've read the handout on this tax bill and I really didn't like what I read. A lot of general statements on how the $$ is spent on the educaction systems.

For example 2/3 to middle level education and 1/3 to higher education. I don't have the pamplet in front of me so I'm stating these facts from memory so there is a good chance the verbiage is not exact.

The analogy I use is, If I lost my job or some sort of income I would cut back and make some hard scarifices. So why can't they (state govt) do this as well. Someone will always suffer no matter how you vote. The more $$ we give the state govt or any govt the more they will spend and this trend will just keep repeating itself. "Oh we need another tax increase to save Delw's donkey's" or something to this extent. Sorry Delw couldn't resist!!!

I do kind of agree that all day K is a joke. I've spent a ton of money/time/resources on my daughter for Pre-K schools and at home education so she was prepared for K so she wouldn't be behind. She has learned alot and has advanced a ton in reading, math, etc. But she could advance even more but the other kids in her class slow the class down quit a bit. My wife helps out one day a week and she ends up tutoring other children with their studies because they are behind and will most likely not go on to 1st grade due to this and have to repeat K again. I don't blame the teacher for this but I do believe education starts with the parents/home. Most parents nowadays just set this kid in front of the TV or some other time wasting event instead of doing working with their child. You can teach counting and math from a boat. I use to ask my daugher to count the numbers on the RPM/MPH gauges in my boat. Or count the compartments, etc. I know that is extreme but every little bit helps. My wife and I worked with our child during Pre-K and K so our child was well prepared for school. I actually tried to test her our of kindergarten but our school wouldn't allow it

Sorry to rant guys!! I just kept typing and couldn't stop. But either way these are my two cents on this matter and I know my situation is not the same as everyone elses.

 

if they'd initiate post natal abortion on stupid people and their kids i wouldn't have to have my taxes constantly increased to pay for all your peoples f@ck trophies educations.

 

And you probably would not be here today to act as an advocate in more ways than you realize…

 

I seem to have read somewhere that, as a nation, we spend more per student than any other country? We obviously don't have the best education system in the world, so if the $$/student statement is true, then throwing money at the situation certainly isn't going to do anything more than bandaid the situation.

I'm with MadTackle.....give your school a donation if you want them to have more $$.

I could go on and on about taxes used for education and the deductions for dependents etc... but I'll save that for an approrpriate thread.

 

I seem to have read somewhere that, as a nation, we spend more per student than any other country? We obviously don't have the best education system in the world, so if the $$/student statement is true, then throwing money at the situation certainly isn't going to do anything more than bandaid the situation.

I'm with MadTackle.....give your school a donation if you want them to have more $$.

I could go on and on about taxes used for education and the deductions for dependents etc... but I'll save that for an approrpriate thread.

Yes, this is a State Bill that is trying to recompense what the Federal Government has taken away from Arizona’s education system. Arizona has consistently ranked bottom 4 of the US and as of late toggling around 2nd worst.

In terms of what we spend on education per capita, the USA has averaged in the 40’s per our GDP. That certainly puts us below the top 3rd; however I am confident you and I believe we should probably be happy with no less than 1st…

Donations are a great idea, I give and they do help, however this is like any other physcal budget. They need to know how much money can be expected now, so though funding can help for supplies; it cannot be applied to the cap budget, employee’s, etc. since it cannot be guaranteed.

 

my wife has 43 kids in her 1st grade class and no aids to help her and they just laid off like 60 teachers in here district also. It is bs how little funding education gets.

 

Im voting no, I hate public schools....they already take a buttload of my money thru property tax, and for what? To feed little immigrant kids w/ no money, like thats my problem....private school for my kids...

 

AZ is 14th in population and 33rd in the property taxes we pay per capita. North Carolina is the only state with a higher population than AZ that pays less for property taxes. Move to New Jersey and pay more than double what you pay here. The money has to come from somewhere; where do you propose we get it?

As for private schools; most parents both work just to a keep food on the table; $13k or more per year may be a difficult proposition to swallow.

 

A child can still get a good education even in public school systems, if the parents get involved. Don't have 'em if you don't want, or can't give them your time.

 

+100

 

I can't see giving any more money until they ax the ESL programs at many of these schools. When I was in HS I knew quite a few people taking ESL who could speak English just fine. It seemed like it was just a blow off class to them.

 

I believe there is still a large amount of 'fat' in government spending that should be cut and diverted to the necessities. Instead they cut the highly public items to get folks to vote on tax increases like this. Our government has shown a history of diverting funds to whatever they please and not necessarily that for which they were targeted.

 

Yes, Jeff I agree and a few others have mentioned this as well. This is an age old issue that unfortunately not an overnight resolution. It all comes back to the voter having the obligation to understand what and who they are voting for. This starts at a state level and moves on. Like it or not, once in office, we have little control, but we can still try with every tactic available. First and foremost the legislators need to realize that we will not tolerate waste or ineptitude.

So, this definitely needs to happen, however in the interim programs that impact our kids future are in danger of failing and will create a domino effect. I am not inclined to gamble on a penny per dollar spent for this instance...

 

I changed my mind after watching my grandson go to all day kindergarten in Payson. He had homework from day one and has learned to read and write. My kids had all day and all they did was play. I am not sure this tax will fix the school funding problem and I think all government workers need to take a 10% pay cut instead of firing people. The private sector has had pay cuts yet government employees are getting raises. Not right IMO.

 

Good Points… In our sector all teachers are receiving a 2% cut in pay. Considering their low wages anyway we still have to consider retention of good people. So who knows what this cut will do here; coupled with the increasing anxiety of government cuts; they may just get out of the field.

 

Sorry to sound like an A$$, but if I was in Az, I'd be voting no. This isn't about getting money into the school system to help the kids, this is about maintaining the status quo for the administrators. I don't know anything about the PHX schools, but Yuma needs three seperate school districts. Each has a full administrative staff. Thier overhead costs are through the roof and they complain that they can't get and keep quality teachers. That's because they pay them like crap, while they make a but-load. It was already stated in this thread, if your financial input is reduced, you cut the overhead expenses.
Well, if education isn't getting enough money for their current level, you cut the fat. Pleasse note than in order to have a educational system, you need teachers. Fire the administrators. Make them balance their own checkbook.

Wait, I have a better idea. Let's just tell them to walk away from their debts and problems just as some of you a$$clowns are recommending for mortgages.
Phil

 

If I were a teacher I would be all for this 1% tax. It "might save" my job. But to ask "everyone" to pony up and pay the addtional tax (which comes out to more than 1% over a year), so a small group of people "might" keep their job is unfair. The problem rests on our state government. They can't figure out how to cut "non-critical" programs and projects to save money. They throw out the threats to instill fear into every person, i.e., "it may take longer for emergency services to respond to calls and thus put you and your loved ones at risk of serious injury or even death, your school children will fail at school because there won't be enough teachers to teach them, the quality of education will drop because the lack of teachers will mean more students in the classroom and less 1 on 1 with the students, state parks will be closed (which our tax dollars already paid for), rest areas on our state highways will be closed (our gas taxes and vehicle registrations should have already paid for and a state lawmaker is proposing an additional $12 fee on all vehicles in AZ to keep these rest stops open), law enforcement officers and firefighters will lose their jobs, after school programs for kids will be eliminated, and it goes on and on...... unless you vote for that temporary 1% sales tax increase. Can you ever remember a temporary tax that was elimated in AZ? I remember some fees that hunters/fisherman/outdoors enthusiasts have to pay now that were supposed to be "temporary".

But I the new Cubs spring training facility will get built and we all will get the enjoyment of helping pay for it in one way or another. Along with more pet projects the politicians have.

As you can tell, I'm voting NO on the sales tax increase. They will get us one way or the other though.

 

If I were a teacher I would be all for this 1% tax. It "might save" my job. But to ask "everyone" to pony up and pay the addtional tax (which comes out to more than 1% over a year), so a small group of people "might" keep their job is unfair. The problem rests on our state government. They can't figure out how to cut "non-critical" programs and projects to save money. They throw out the threats to instill fear into every person, i.e., "it may take longer for emergency services to respond to calls and thus put you and your loved ones at risk of serious injury or even death, your school children will fail at school because there won't be enough teachers to teach them, the quality of education will drop because the lack of teachers will mean more students in the classroom and less 1 on 1 with the students, state parks will be closed (which our tax dollars already paid for), rest areas on our state highways will be closed (our gas taxes and vehicle registrations should have already paid for and a state lawmaker is proposing an additional $12 fee on all vehicles in AZ to keep these rest stops open), law enforcement officers and firefighters will lose their jobs, after school programs for kids will be eliminated, and it goes on and on...... unless you vote for that temporary 1% sales tax increase. Can you ever remember a temporary tax that was elimated in AZ? I remember some fees that hunters/fisherman/outdoors enthusiasts have to pay now that were supposed to be "temporary".

But I the new Cubs spring training facility will get built and we all will get the enjoyment of helping pay for it in one way or another. Along with more pet projects the politicians have.

As you can tell, I'm voting NO on the sales tax increase. They will get us one way or the other though.

Valid points with one clarification. This is not for the teachers; it is for the children and trying to provide the best possible education. As I wrote a moment ago, our district is taking 2% cuts for all teachers. Yes there is fat; yes budgeting could be handled better. I invite everyone to look at these budgets as so they can understand there are valid attempts being made here. In the end, if people get involved and assist in “auditing” if you will, they can help force the issue. Truly it is the only way we can get the system on track.

 

decided to stay out of it.

 

Pretty cheap DAYCARE if you ask me!


I can't believe that's what you actually meant...is it?

 

Ok the 1 cent tax is temporary. The reason for the tax isn't just "Education" everyone is focused on "it's an education problem" the reason for the tax is, there is a $1 billion budget short fall, because our gov't can't figure shit out, so when there is a budget defecit, the first thing politicians do is 1st - Cut education, 2nd - Cut Emergency services.

So anyone who votes no on this bill, I hope your kids don't grow up ignorant, I hope your house doesn't burn down, and I hope it doesn't take to long for EMS to show up when your family is T-boned in an intersection.

 

Ok the 1 cent tax is temporary. The reason for the tax isn't just "Education" everyone is focused on "it's an education problem" the reason for the tax is, there is a $1 billion budget short fall, because our gov't can't figure shit out, so when there is a budget defecit, the first thing politicians do is 1st - Cut education, 2nd - Cut Emergency services.

So anyone who votes no on this bill, I hope your kids don't grow up ignorant, I hope your house doesn't burn down, and I hope it doesn't take to long for EMS to show up when your family is T-boned in an intersection.

+1

 

I will vote YES

 

I will be voting no also, there is a huge state deficit and throwing more money at it because our state government can't do simple addition and subtraction does not mean I need to spend more money on them. Where is all the federal aid, where is the Change, Change we can believe in. He talked a good game during the election and just like Brian Bosworth, and Matt Leinart he has not produced.

 

I will be voting NO on 100. I have two little kids and will not vote for this tax. I have to agree with DR 6. The amount of money wasted by our school is mind blowing. We have created a monster by continuing to vote tax increases in the name of school/teachers. I now understand why this is a REPUBLIC and not a Democracy. The legeslature should have control over the State budget, but as it stands, one of the biggest reasons we are broke in this State, is WE have voted ourselves into backruptcy. The elected officials have no control over madated spending, and cannot balance the budget because of it. So the solution is more spending... I don't buy it. Nor do I think that once enacted that this tax will ever go away.

 

I will be voting NO on 100. I have two little kids and will not vote for this tax. I have to agree with DR 6. The amount of money wasted by our school is mind blowing. We have created a monster by continuing to vote tax increases in the name of school/teachers. I now understand why this is a REPUBLIC and not a Democracy. The legeslature should have control over the State budget, but as it stands, one of the biggest reasons we are broke in this State, is WE have voted ourselves into backruptcy. The elected officials have no control over madated spending, and cannot balance the budget because of it. So the solution is more spending... I don't buy it. Nor do I think that once enacted that this tax will ever go away.

Army; thanks for your service! Of many on this board, you will benefit the most by our taxes and I know your programs are impacted as well. Now this is another subject, however I agree people like you still are not getting the support they need while serving or even upon retirement, however there are valid attempts with some pretty good benefits; including free education, etc.

The reality is that costs are increasing everywhere and we are expected to do more with less. It seems as though our government is cutting back on necessary programs to promote questionable programs. Their cause has created this effect, so now it is a matter of us to step to the plate, if only to give what the majority of US States are giving towards education. Keep in mind, Arizona as a state gives less and charges you less per your taxes, property taxes, etc. So, now it is an “elective” cost that will make a huge impact in putting our education where it needs to be. As parents, or non parents, we should not accept that we are in the bottom 5% of the US in terms of education. The more we push here, the better our kids will run and even change the bad habits of today. Education is key; not just for your kids, or my kids, but all kids and hence our future.

Again, I employ you and everyone else to look at the actual budgets and you will see that they are making valid cuts and changes; but also targeting programs we would prefer not to cut. Singling out education, we just do not put in the money other states do per capita, and less than almost 40 other countries. As the best country in the world who exists because of people like you, we cannot afford to lose our reign. Of anyone on this board, you likely understand more since you have seen “just how lucky we are”.

As for the tax “never going away”; it will in fact expire in 2013.

Additionally, Military, Policeman and Firemen are a rare breed. Both my father and brother were in both the military, later becoming involved directly with the police departments, and to be honest I am nowhere near the man they were/are. You people do something that few understand and it seems less appreciate, yet are the main reason us idiots can freely type our “opinions” behind a keyboard. We cannot continue to lose people like you!!!

All that said and done, you better be a member of our military and not some 13 year old kid who dreams of flying cool helicopters someday… Probably has a damn GI Joe flying through the air at this very moment…

 

Please vote yes, if you buy another 100 dollar rod which I'm sure many of you have, it'll only cost you 1 dollar more. If you have the money for fishing equipment you can spare a few bucks for our schools.