Education Finance

Special to the Arizona Daily Star
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Michael Hunter
Ideally, taxpayers should be able to weigh the costs of a school district property tax question against the benefits of the proposed spending. In Arizona, taxpayers soon discover that information on the taxation side of the equation is often difficult to understand.
Independent Newspapers
Monday, October 18, 2004
Salvatore Caputo
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.
The Arizona Republic
Tuesday, October 12, 2004
Anne Ryman
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.
East Valley Tribune
Monday, October 11, 2004
Editorial
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.
The Arizona Republic
Thursday, October 7, 2004
Michael Hunter Editorial
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.
The Arizona Republic
Monday, October 4, 2004
Jason Emerson
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.
Yuma Sun
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Jackie Leatherman
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.
East Valley Tribune
Thursday, May 6, 2004
Cece Todd
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.
Sierra Vista Herald
Tuesday, May 4, 2004
Michael Hunter
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.
Tucson Citizen
Friday, April 9, 2004
Michael Hunter
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.