Governor Jan Brewer,
who supported Prop 100 back in 2010, weighs in on Prop 204:
Dear
Voter,
I urge you to vote No on Proposition
204. We don't need this type of California, union-style budgeting in
Arizona.
Two years ago - during some of our state's toughest times -
Arizona voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 100, a three-year tax increase
needed to stave off drastic cuts to education. I was proud to lead that effort,
and I have continued to fight for measures that provide additional funding for
critical education reforms that increase student
achievement.
Unfortunately, Proposition 204 is not one of
those.
Proposition 204 only pretends to fund the reforms we desperately
need. Proponents of this measure, mostly unions and their supporters, want you
to commit to permanently pay 18% more in state sales taxes - without requiring
any reforms or guaranteeing any results. And all of this before the current
sales tax has even expired!
They want to treat failing schools the same
as successful schools. They want to claim that funds will be used to increase
teacher pay and implement higher academic standards while, in fact, neither of
those things is actually required.
Proposition 204 is overly-complicated
and confusing. Even experts cannot agree what happens to the tax dollars
collected. A school funding proposal shouldn't require a degree in high finance
in order to follow the money.
We can do better than Proposition 204.
Let's fund the results we want, starting with the resources we have. Let's
couple any new revenues with meaningful reforms that will actually improve
student achievement and graduation rates. Let's reward our star teachers and
principals with pay that recognizes their outstanding
performance.
Otherwise, we will look back and see billions more of our
tax dollars spent without any clear improvements for our children.
Be
wise with your money and vote No on Proposition 204!
Jan Brewer,
Governor, Phoenix
Dear Voter,
Two years ago - during some of our state's toughest times - Arizona voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 100, a three-year tax increase needed to stave off drastic cuts to education. I was proud to lead that effort, and I have continued to fight for measures that provide additional funding for critical education reforms that increase student achievement.
Unfortunately, Proposition 204 is not one of those.
Proposition 204 only pretends to fund the reforms we desperately need. Proponents of this measure, mostly unions and their supporters, want you to commit to permanently pay 18% more in state sales taxes - without requiring any reforms or guaranteeing any results. And all of this before the current sales tax has even expired!
They want to treat failing schools the same as successful schools. They want to claim that funds will be used to increase teacher pay and implement higher academic standards while, in fact, neither of those things is actually required.
Proposition 204 is overly-complicated and confusing. Even experts cannot agree what happens to the tax dollars collected. A school funding proposal shouldn't require a degree in high finance in order to follow the money.
We can do better than Proposition 204. Let's fund the results we want, starting with the resources we have. Let's couple any new revenues with meaningful reforms that will actually improve student achievement and graduation rates. Let's reward our star teachers and principals with pay that recognizes their outstanding performance.
Otherwise, we will look back and see billions more of our tax dollars spent without any clear improvements for our children.
Be wise with your money and vote No on Proposition 204!
Jan Brewer, Governor, Phoenix
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