Democrats urge Republicans to keep promise, lift cap that will stop schools from spending $1 billion – Arizona Mirror
Democrats and public education advocates are urging Gov. Doug Ducey and his fellow Republicans in the state Legislature to keep their promise to lift the states annual school spending cap.
Republicans and Democrats in the state legislature together passed a budget in June that dedicated more than $600 million to new, permanent funding for K-12 education. However, if two-thirds of the legislature doesnt vote to lift the states Aggregate Expenditure Limit, or AEL, districts across the state wont be able to spend around $1.3 billion already allocated to them.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
SUBSCRIBE
Many Democrats in the Legislature say they only voted in favor of the budget because Ducey and the Republican legislators promised they would later call a special session to lift the limit.
If Democrats can prove they have the votes to override the AEL, Ducey will call a special session, said C.J. Karamargin, communications director for the governors office.
What is the point of giving our public schools money but not allowing them to spend it? asked Sen. Christine Marsh during a press conference Thursday. Its a betrayal of our students and our schools. Its also a betrayal of the legislators who voted for a less-than-ideal budget under the promise that there would be a special session to address the AEL.
Voters added the AEL to the Arizona Constitution in 1980. It implemented a shared monetary limit based on the spending and enrollment at all public school districts in the state, according to the Arizona Education Association. Once districts reach their shared limit, they can do no more spending in that fiscal year.
Advocates pointed out on Thursday that the AEL predates laws requiring sometimes costly accommodations for special education students as well as expensive technology that is now used in many classrooms.
A small group of legislators and education advocates gathered for the press conference on the state Capitol grounds in Phoenix on Thursday morning to call out Ducey and legislative Republicans for their failure to schedule a special session.
If the AEL isnt lifted for 2023, school funding will drop off April 1 and districts will be unable to spend more than $1 billion in money they were given.
According to Marsh, who is a teacher at Scottsdale Unified School District, her district stands to lose around $28.4 million if the limit isnt lifted. Chandler Unified School District stands to lose $62.4 million, Phoenix Union High School District would lose $52.6 million and Tucson Unified School District would lose $66.1 million
This comes down to kids, and they deserve to know that their state cares about their education, Marsh said. And right now, they dont know this.
Failure to lift the limit will result in teacher layoffs, larger classroom sizes and poor learning outcomes, Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said during the press conference.
Sierra Vista Unified School District, located southeast of Tucson, would have to reduce its average teacher salary from $50,000 to $35,200 if the limit stays in place, Hoffman said.
How are schools supposed to obtain highly qualified teachers for only $35,000 a year? Hoffman said.
The spending cap might also mean fewer paraprofessionals to assist special education students, and fewer counselors, behavioral coaches and school nurses, she said.
Democrats said they agreed to approve the state budget in June without addressing the AEL as a concession to Republicans who wanted to wait for a judgment in a court case challenging Proposition 208, also known as the Invest in Education Act. The voter-approved measure would have provided millions in funding for schools through a 3.5% surcharge on all income greater than $250,000 for individuals or $500,000 for joint filers.
But the judgment calling the act unconstitutional and the following appeal period are now long passed, and Democrats say its time for Ducey to call the promised special session.
Democrats are confident that, if Ducey does call for a special session, they have the votes to lift the spending limit. The state education budget passed in June with 48 votes in the House and 21 in the Senate, more than the votes needed to lift the limit, said House Democratic Leader Reginald Bolding.
But Karamargin countered that Democrats havent supplied the governor with a list of Legislators who are on board.
Well consider it as we said we would, he said.
Those who supported that budget should support lifting the limit so that money can be spent, Bolding said on Thursday. He believes that anyone who changes their vote was playing political games or being dishonest.
Karamargin believes Bolding was making assumptions when he said that those who voted for the budget should support lifting the AEL.
The Legislature voted in February to lift the AEL for the 2022 fiscal year, which ended June 30. The proposed vote would be to lift it for 2023.
***This story has been updated to include comments from the governors office.
Read this article:
Democrats urge Republicans to keep promise, lift cap that will stop schools from spending $1 billion - Arizona Mirror
- Republicans big bill scared bond markets. Thats bad news for your wallet. - MSNBC News - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Analysis | The Big Beautiful Bill is a big risk for House Republicans. Many of them hope otherwise. - The Washington Post - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Top Republicans threaten to block Trumps spending bill if national debt is not reduced - The Guardian - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Florida Republicans Break With Trump Over Venezuelan Deportations - The New York Times - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- How House Republicans' big tax and spending vote will shape the next election - NBC News - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- House Republicans narrowly passed Trumps big, beautiful bill. Heres whats in it - PBS - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Republicans are dodging fired federal staff: They will not even look in our direction - The Guardian - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Two House Republicans missed the big vote - Politico - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- House Republicans Have Passed a Bill to Gut the IRA. What Happened to All the Supposed Holdouts? - Inside Climate News - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Fury as Republicans go nuclear in fight over California car emissions - The Guardian - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- 7 things Senate Republicans hate about the House megabill - Politico - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Now That House Republicans Took the Plunge, Its the Senates Turn - The New York Times - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- House Republicans pass Trump's big bill of tax breaks and program cuts after all-night session - AP News - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- The reconciliation bill is Republicans doing what they do best - vox.com - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- The Devastating Harms of House Republicans Big, 'Beautiful' Bill by State and Congressional District - Center for American Progress - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans aim to get Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' to his desk by July 4 - Fox News - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- House Republicans press ahead on Trump agenda bill with key issues up in the air - NBC News - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- House Republicans tee up floor action on Trumps megabill - Politico - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Opinion | One Thing Still Unites Republicans - The New York Times - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- House Republicans pass big, beautiful bill after weeks of division - Politico - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- House Republicans Just Dealt a Blow to Wind Developers - THE CITY - NYC News - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Chuck Schumer is already panning blue state Republicans for caving on SALT - Politico - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Trump urges House Republicans not to mess with Medicaid amid push to pass bill advancing his agenda: Sources - ABC News - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Why House Republicans stripped a regulatory overhaul from their megabill for now - Politico - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Blue-state Republicans score SALT win in megabill revisions - Politico - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- The 5 House Republicans who didn't vote for Trump's sweeping tax bill - USA Today - May 26th, 2025 [May 26th, 2025]
- Senate Republicans put House on notice: We won't accept your Trump agenda bill without changes - NBC News - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Republicans advance bill with steep cuts to Medicaid as part of Trump agenda - The Hill - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Conservative Republicans Revolt Over Domestic Policy Bill, Threatening Its Path - The New York Times - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- House Republicans Medicaid Cuts and Associated Lives Lost by Congressional District - Center for American Progress - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Heres Whats in House Republicans Big Tax Bill to Deliver Trumps Agenda - The New York Times - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Republicans Outdo Themselves in Food Stamp Cuts - The American Prospect - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- House Republicans are zeroing in on a sweeping tax package. Heres what it could mean for you - CNN - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Republicans want Congress involved in Trumps Qatar jet push - Politico - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Renewable Energy Is Booming in Texas. Republicans Want to Change That. - The New York Times - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- House Republicans Tax Bill Is Full of New Loopholes for the Ultrawealthy - Center for American Progress - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- House Republicans Push Forward Plan to Cut Taxes, Medicaid and Food Stamps - The New York Times - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Opinion | House Republicans are about to wreck Trumps nuclear-powered dream - The Washington Post - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Republicans May Not Even Be Able to Move Reconciliation Out of Committee on Time - notus.org - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- First time we were hearing of them: The GOP megabill is packed with surprises for some Republicans - Politico - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Republicans propose prohibiting US states from regulating AI for 10 years - The Guardian - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Congressional Republicans Reconciliation Plan Could Cost a Working-Class Family Thousands More Per Year - Center for American Progress - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- ICYMI: CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS AND PRESIDENT TRUMP UNVEIL THEIR PLAN TO TRADE AWAY AMERICANS HEALTH COVERAGE FOR TAX CUT FOR THE WEALTHY - U.S.... - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- RFK Jr. and his 'MAHA' agenda make some Republicans nervous as they look to the midterms - NBC News - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Opinion | How do Republicans plan to cut health coverage? Two basic ways. - The Washington Post - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Trump's 'palace in the sky' plane gift concerns some Republicans - Reuters - May 15th, 2025 [May 15th, 2025]
- Proposed Medicaid cuts by Republicans leave patients and doctors fearing the worst - NBC News - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- House works into the night as Republicans push ahead on Trumps big bill - AP News - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Whats in Trump and Republicans giant tax and immigration bill? - The Washington Post - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Republicans Have Landed on a Grisly Compromise for Cutting Medicaid - Slate Magazine - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Marathon hearings begin as House Republicans push ahead with Trumps big bill - PBS - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Republicans face a crucial stretch this week as they aim to deliver on Trump's agenda - NPR - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- The House Republicans' Budget Bill Guts Basic Needs Programs for the Most Vulnerable Americans to Give Tax Breaks to the Rich - Center for American... - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- House Republicans pension changes will save nearly $51B, CBO says - Politico - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- House Republicans face down Dem attacks, protests to pull all-nighter on Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' - Fox News - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Congressional Republicans Are Planning One of the Largest-Ever Cuts to Basic Supports for Children - Center for American Progress - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- House Republicans unveil Medicaid cuts that Democrats warn will leave millions without care - AP News - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Republicans push to repeal clean energy tax breaks, putting companies in limbo and billions in investments at risk - The Daily Climate - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Opinion | House Republicans take on Medicaid - The Washington Post - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Republicans Propose Paring Medicaid Coverage but Steer Clear of Deeper Cuts - The New York Times - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Republicans have a plan to add trillions of dollars to the national debt - The Economist - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- AFGE Fights House Republicans $50 Billion Cuts to Federal Workers Retirement, Attack on Merit System - AFGE - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Republicans Propose No Regulation of AI for the Next 10 Years - Newsweek - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- To Republicans, We Are the Waste | Opinion - Newsweek - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- House Republicans spark outrage with bilingual post as GOP infighting intensifies - Fox News - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Virginia Republicans are reeling and they have no one to blame but themselves - MSNBC News - May 14th, 2025 [May 14th, 2025]
- Trump imposed new taxes with only a wave of his hand, and Nevada Republicans are fine with that - Nevada Current - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Michigan House Republicans want to shift who has the power to appoint the state superintendent - Michigan Advance - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- How 3 Republicans survived their town halls - Politico - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- People think Republicans arent perfect, but the other side is crazy: Sen. John Kennedy - Fox News - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Republicans Killed 43 Democratic Voucher Amendments. See What They Opposed. - Reform Austin - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- A dozen House Republicans fire warning shot to Mike Johnson on Medicaid cuts - Axios - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]
- Republicans in many states forge ahead with bills requiring proof of citizenship to vote - The Guardian - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]
- Michigan House Republicans want the State Board of Education to lose this power - Chalkbeat - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]
- Republicans reconsider their commitment to tax cuts for the rich in Trump agenda bill - NBC News - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]
- House Republicans refuse to pass ceremonial resolution honoring Cecile Richards - The Texas Tribune - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]
- Republicans Are Trying to Steal an Election - Democracy Docket - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]
- Capital Tonight: Texas Republicans clear major hurdle in passing school vouchers - Spectrum News - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]
- Polling shows growing number of Republicans identify with the MAGA movement - NBC News - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]
- Republicans Debate Higher Taxes on the Rich - The New York Times - April 18th, 2025 [April 18th, 2025]