Are teachers in Arizona really starving? One might have thought so, based on their cries of anguish during this year's legislative session.


Actually, they're not doing badly at all, thanks to the largest tax increase in state history approved by voters in 2000.

Latest figures from the National Education Association rank Arizona 's average teacher pay for 2001-02 at 26th in the nation, far above the “worst in the nation” we hear so often at budget time.

School districts under federal desegregation orders would be forced to ask the state for money to pay some costs under a new plan being considered by state lawmakers.


Traditionally, Arizona has provided an exemption to school district spending limits to raise funds for programs intended to end discrimination against minority students. Seventeen school districts currently use that exemption, including Mesa and Scottsdale unified school districts and Tempe Elementary School District.

Property owners are worried about recent growth in property valuations. Experience tells them that increases in value will translate into increased property taxes next year.


County assessors often get the blame for tax increases, but they have a constitutional obligation to value property at its fair market value.


In addition to ensuring property is not overvalued, property taxpayers need to focus their attention on the other side of the equation: taxes levied by local governments.

It is not uncommon to hear the news media and public school advocates describe Arizona’s public school system as "the worst in the nation" or "bottom of the heap." School funding statistics are sometimes lumped together or used interchangeably, and rather recklessly, in order to make a point for or against some school funding proposal.


One article in The Arizona Republic noted that "Arizona’s rock-bottom ranking in education polls has been a deterrent for some firms considering a move to the Valley . . ." (Sept. 13, 2003).

Arizona 's school districts scored a major victory Wednesday, but critics quickly claimed it will come at the expense of taxpayers.


In a lawsuit filed by six school districts, including Mesa , Chandler and Cave Creek, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled the state Legislature violated the Arizona Constitution last year when it froze the amount of money school districts could seek from local taxpayers for excess utility costs.

Yuma Elementary School District 1 is the only local district that has successfully passed budget overrides since the state Legislature created them in 1985.


Next Tuesday, the question will appear on the ballot for the sixth time for voters within the district to allow a property tax increase to help maintain teachers' competitive salaries.

If funding from the Legislature doesn't change, it won't be the last time the question is proposed to voters, according to school officials.

Health care companies and firms related to the construction industry have contributed nearly $160,000 to a campaign aimed at passing a nearly $1 billion community college bond measure Nov. 2. The figure is nearly half of the money collected so far.


Bond money from Proposition 401 would pay for among other things construction of a nursing and biomedical facility, a health care training center, more than a million square feet of classroom and lab space, and building refurbishment at 10 colleges.

The Maricopa Community College District is asking voters for $951 million in bonds that would cost property taxpayers $1,436,881,730 in principal and interest. The Arizona Tax Research Association (ATRA) is urging voters to deny this extraordinary request.

Some of the largest Valley school districts have bonds on the Nov. 2 ballot to fix schools, buy buses and add classrooms.


Scottsdale Unified, Deer Valley Unified, Chandler Unified and Madison Elementary are among the seven school districts with bonds on the general election ballot.

Bonds are paid for through property taxes and must be approved by voters in a school district.

Political strategists say that a crowded general election ballot could work in bonds' favor or against them.

The Maricopa County Community College District plans $87 million in improvements for Chandler-Gilbert Community College if voters approve a $951.36 million bond request in the general election Nov. 2.


"People say they support the community colleges, so they need to know that a vote for Proposition 401 - at the bottom of the ballot - will support them," said Jay Thorne, spokesman for a citizens committee to promote the proposition. "Chandler-Gilbert Community College is the fastest-growing of the (Maricopa Community Colleges)."