Arizona Legislature begins Monday with focus on education funding

Arizona Daily Star
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Howie Fischer

http://tucson.com/news/local/arizona-legislature-begins-monday-with-focu...
PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey kicks off the legislative session Monday with a call for more education funding — but not with the tax hikes that some say are necessary to provide truly adequate funding for schools.

The governor said the state has made a “significant investment” in K-12 education, saying aid to schools is $700 million higher now than it was three years ago.

“More is needed,” he said, saying the details of his budget will have to wait.

But the governor rejected suggestions and proposals by several different education and business groups that the quickest — and easiest — way to raise the revenues needed is to boost state sales taxes, curb tax credits or close what some describe as “loopholes” in the tax code.

“I’m not raising taxes,” he said in an interview with Capitol Media Services.

Instead, Ducey insists he can find the money elsewhere in the budget.

“Our economy is growing,” he said. “Our state government is being operated more effectively and efficiently.”