Summary of FY2018 Governor Ducey’s Budget Proposal

"The Governor’s proposed budget identifies priorities that are important to all our educators and our students’ families throughout Pima County.  I appreciate the Governor’s focus on teacher pay, all day Kindergarten and investment in our low income schools.  While these are steps in the right direction, I believe there are opportunities to provide greater support to our students and their teachers.  The lack of investment of capital funding for our public schools is paramount to ensure that our students have access to safe buildings and the tools they need to be academically successful.  We need to have a serious discussion on the revenues that our State has committed towards expanding tax cuts and tax credits for the School Tuitions Organizations.  My office intends to be part of the conversation with our education partners and our State leadership.  I want to make sure that we commit the Governor and the Legislature towards a discussion that provides long-term resources that are sustainable for all our students in Pima County," said Dustin Williams.

 

Summary of FY2018 Governor Ducey’s Budget Proposal

The Governor recommended his $9.8 billion budget proposal for the fiscal year that start July 1st.  The new budget plan includes $76 million for inflation and enrollment and $114 million in spending beyond the formula changes.  Here are the different elements related to K-12 education:

 

TEACHER PAY
• Proposed 2% raise to be phased in over 5 years with $13.6M in FY18 and $20M in FY19 through FY22.  This comes to approximately $800 on an annual teacher’s salary of $40,000.  This is funding outside of funds that are already part of Proposition 301 increases and other increases that districts and charters are already providing.  “Teacher” is defined the same was as teachers under Proposition 301.

• A signing bonus of $1,000 for teachers who agree to work in school districts with free and reduced lunch rates of 60% or greater – appropriates $6.4M in FY18 and $19M in FY19 through FY22.

• $250,000 for “loan forgiveness” for Math, Science and Special Education Teachers who agrees to teach in an Arizona public school.

 

FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN & EARLY LITERACY
• Phase in over two years per student to fund full day Kindergarten at school districts and charters with 90% eligibility for free and reduced lunch. 

• Provides $1,244 per kindergartner in FY18 and $2,488 in FY19 and FY20. 

• School districts and charters that already offer Full Day Kindergarten, the funds can be used to take over full day Kindergarten or focus on K-3 literacy initiatives.

 

RESULTS-BASED FUNDING
• Appropriates $38M to “high performing” schools –

  • o $400 per students where the schools are in the top 10% of all schools based on AzMERIT scores and more than 60% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch.
  • o $225 per students where the schools are in the top 10% of all schools based on AzMERIT scores and less than 60% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch.


CURRENT YEAR FUNDING
• Appropriates $20M for school districts and charters have a decline of greater than 2% in student enrollment than their original budget projections.  This helps districts and charters to manage their budgets and cash to prevent making corrections in the middle of the fiscal year while maintaining their commitments to their teachers.


INCREASED SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING
• Increases funding for “Group B weight” students due to specific disabilities; appropriates $4.2M based on growth

 

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