4/8/2010 11:28:00 PM
Gov. Brewer urges voters to support Prop. 100
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Matt Hinshaw/The Daily Courier, file
In this file photo, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer speaks March 5, 2009, at Prescott City Hall. |
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Paula Rhoden
The Daily Courier
Gov. Jan Brewer says she is voting "yes" on Proposition 100, the temporary one-cent sales tax for education and public health and safety.
Brewer told the parents and students at the Prescott High School 4.0 Honors Banquet Thursday evening that in 28 years she has never voted to increase taxes, but that the success of kids like the junior and senior PHS students honored at the banquet could not continue without the voter approval of Prop. 100.
"Doing the right thing often means doing the hard thing. I will be voting 'yes' on May 18," the governor said.
Brewer said that without the revenue generated by the additional sales tax, the state would cut $1 billion immediately from education and public safety programs.
"This is a hard request to make, but it is the right one for our state and our future," she said.
Before the banquet, Brewer met with members of the media.
The Prop. 100 ballot measure specifies that proceeds of the three-year tax will go to education and public safety.
"That will become part of the Arizona Constitution," Brewer said, guaranteeing the money goes to those programs.
If voters do not approve Prop. 100, the governor said cuts to education would result in larger class sizes and an 18 percent to 20 percent increase in university fees.
"I have fought one-and-a-half years to protect education. I have vetoed bills that would have put the state below the 2006 funding level, below maintenance of effort. To protect that, I am asking people to vote for Prop. 100," Brewer said.
As Arizona continues to rank near the bottom in education spending, the governor said that to improve, the state must initiate education reform.
She noted that Yavapai College is a model for the nation for community colleges working with universities.
"K-12 education must be accountable in schools, and we must grade students in a manner that parents understand. We need to reward our teachers and support them. Everyone has to work together," Brewer said.
Brewer listens to and receives advice from educators in all avenues, including public, private, charter schools and vocational education.
However, she said, "Parents are my greatest source. They know what their children need."
Prop. 100 is not a cure-all, the governor said, but she believes it will help stop the bleeding.
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Paula Rhoden
Prescott Daily Courier
Copyright Prescott Daily Courier 2011 All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
April 8, 2010 02:32
Posted: Sunday, April 18, 2010
Article comment by:
j robnett
I am a teacher that was cut due to low enrollment. This tax will not save any jobs. Enrollment will continue to decrease because of the fact that homes will cost more cause of the tax increase. People will not put up with this and will gladly move elsewhere. if they say that education is so important then why does it seem to be the first to be cut and we need a special tax to support it?
Posted: Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Article comment by:
Sad Student
I am a student at Prescott High School, and I as well think it is ridiculous that sales tax increase is even suggested..but I am a fine arts student. I cannot imagine going to school, and not being able to have the fine arts classes, the only classes I enjoy, not to mention how many teachers will be losing their job. Would you rather make students suffer? or pay 1% more. I understand it's not easy, but it's not easy on anyone in this situation..think of the bigger picture. I am miserable, and have been crying over losing the one thing i enjoy at school. It's not fair to make the students suffer for this. Please, vote yes on prop 100. It will save so many peoples jobs..some who live on what they make and barely even get by with...and the students..like myself who have been put into a depressing shock by how many people don't care about the students.
Posted: Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Article comment by:
Sky Felix
Taxes taxes taxes, with no focus on systemic issues. Just raise taxes, that'll do the trick. And if it doesn't, we could raise them again. And then, if raising taxes doesn't work, we could raise taxes. I see all kinds of solutions to this problem!
Posted: Monday, April 12, 2010
Article comment by:
Christopher *
Restore the tax cuts for the upper income groups and special interest tax breaks and I would consider the additional sales tax, as part of a package. I'll vote no on this measure for no other reason than the cowardly inaction of the legislature to restore the upper income tax rates. Until the legislature grows a spine and can buck the big campaign donors and start rolling back the special interest legislation, then I vote 'no' to force the issue. Spending money on this republican health reform lawsuit tells me they are more interested in national conservative politics, than State economics. How many school jobs would that lawsuit cost?
Posted: Sunday, April 11, 2010
Article comment by:
Excellent Summation BG
Arizona is broken and this is a temporary band aid.
Let's support each other now and work to change the system for the future.
It doesn't have to be either or. For all of you who think voting no is giving the finger to "big government" you are deluding yourself while diluting the services needed by all of us.
Thanks for your time.
Posted: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Article comment by:
Teacher Teacher
I am voting yes on prop 100. If it doesn't pass I will lose my teaching job. I agree with several of you about not wanting to pay any more money, but the sad fact is.... It's the kids that are going to suffer. What kid can learn in a class of 35 kids? I think school districts should uphold their mission statements and values and keep these cuts as far away from the kids as possible and trim the administrative fat and other over exeditures... But the teachers are first to go.
Posted: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Article comment by:
B G
I am amazed at how many people view "the government" as a seperate entity. The enemy that we must fight against. The fedral, state, county, and local governments pay for our public systems through taxes that are paid by citizens. They pay for education, police, fire, libraries, road maintenance, etc. I am well aware of how bad they manage this money at times, but we have to remember that our state government is almost bankrupt.Is that your problem? You bet it is. If the one cent sales tax is not passed, some people working for these entities will surely lose their jobs. This means that they won't be paying as much taxes as they did before. This means many will receive unemployment which by the way is paid for by taxes. This means that our local economies will be depressed even more because these folks don't have a job. If you work in retail sales, grocery stores, restaurants, as well as any number of other jobs that rely on customers, you will be effected as well. Think about it. A one cent sales tax means that for every hundred dollars you spend, you pay one dollar. When was the last time you bought something for one hundred dollars or more, besides food which isn't effected by this tax. Maybe a few times a year, especially in these economic times.
If you don't like those services that I have mentioned before, or you don't care about our local economy, as well as your children's futures, then vote no on Prop 100. Your lives as well as others will get a lot tougher.
Posted: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Article comment by:
Ron Jeremy
A couple of years ago, the county tried to raise the jail tax by 1/4 of a percent. That would have been an increase of 25 cents on a $100 purchase -- hardly noticable. It failed. A lot of people -- including local teachers and other local government employees -- spoke out against it. Since then, we've lost a lot of officers, no raises for three years with none on the horizon, massive increases in our insurance premiums, closure of the Prescott jail, and now threats of more personnel cuts and/or pay cuts. What comes around, goes around. I guess it's your turn now, so suck it up.
Posted: Saturday, April 10, 2010
Article comment by:
F. Bastiat
I would bet that honky brujo does not understand that his handlers have him promoting Karl Marx's proposition "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need". If that's what hb really believes, he can obtain instant satisfaction by moving to Cuba. It is so sad to witness someone sounding off on something they simply do not understand.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
G A
No one has the money to afford any more sales tax, but here is the bottom line folks. If this tax does not pass then you can expect a major reduction in services, and a major increase in layoffs. Schools will be forced to fire teachers. County, City/Town, and State employees will be fired or forced to accept a reduction of 10% or more in pay. The people who will suffer are the hard working people of our community not the politicians. They will never be affected. It will be the blue collar worker struggling to support their family who suffers from the cuts the state will make. Don't fool yourselves for one minute thinking that if you don't pass this then the government will not be able to spend (waste) money on frivolous expenses. That wasteful spending will continue while our childrens education will continue to suffer. All politicians want the next generation dumb so that they will not know how to fight the system and eradicate the joke of representation we have in this entire country. I'm sick of watching this country mortgage my childrens future to the hilt.
I don't know that this will change anything, but I know I would rather pay a 1-cent sales tax than lose 10% of my families income which is barely keeping us afloat now.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
James Schneider
Some say a 1 cent sales tax won't hurt. We already pay 8-10 percent now. They tax all necessities for survival already. Yavapai county is taxed the highest(state,county & city) than any other county with the fewest amount of higher paying jobs. Sales tax has always been the unfair tax. The poor have to pay the same as the rich. The businesses are charged the tax based on their sales, but they are allowed to pass it on to us. We should not be paying it at all.
I'm voting NO for all the good it will do.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Chill Out Teacher
Obama will take good care of you. Embrace change. Then call the NEA.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
To Local Teacher
You are right - it IS a crying shame to have the squeeze put on the very people teaching in the classrooms. The problem is that there are too many highly-paid 'executive/experts' on the Administration side of the equation. I am curious about union representation for the teachers - if they have a union, it hasn't done them any favors. Perhaps the Courier could give a detailed report on job descriptions with their accompanying salary, including total numbers of employees on a money-pie chart. I suspect a very few are pulling in a substantial percentage. Also look at expenditures of schools and administration. Follow the money. We appreciate our teachers and we believe more funds should be coming down from the top.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Local Teacher !
Thanks guys. I sure appreciate you all worrying about a single penny per dollar when I take a 5% or even 10% cut in my salary after I already took 8% this year, due to reduction in 301 monies.
What a bunch of selfish people I live amongst. Good thing I am educating the kids that will take care of all of you.
We can talk consolidation later. We cannot do that right now.
This 1 little penny to you guys in a BIG and HUGE difference to me who already does a job that I am underpaid for. Please leave my salary alone and at least let me continue to live in the state of darn near poverty that this state has already put me in.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Proud Parent
Courier--the governor was the keynote speaker for the annual Prescott Sunrise Lions 4.0 honors banquet honoring juniors and seniors for their achievements. This was the 49th consecutive year of the program. Why no picture from last night? Why no focus on that? I'm disappointed in your "reporting." Kudos to the Sunrise Lions.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
attendee of the lion's dinner student
as great as it was to have the governor at the dinner, her speech was all about promoting prop 100, which had nothing to do with what the dinner was all about. and that was to honor the accomplishments of the 4.0 high school students. this article reminds me of her speech. all about prop 100 and nothing to do with what the night was for. there was a courier photographer there and yet the photo for this article wasn't even from last night. if she wants to promote herself so much, she should go out in front of the public and do so.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Patrick, who will be voting NO on prop 100
Just read on another page that Yavapai County has 24 school districts and 19 district superientendents, A nice lady named Jeanne took the time to look it up. This to support a school age population that would be a single school district anywhere outside AZ. I'll be voting NO as long as there is that kind of "fat" in the current system.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
commn sense conservative
Forget this sales tax! Choke off the spending! Let's see what breaks! Send the prisoners back here but only after the governor signs the new open carry law.
I am kind of cool with the concept of "It Takes a Village" by Hillary Clinton. Never read the book...would probably groan big time...but the concept itself provokes thought. But I have a problem with village's only solution being being to raise taxes.
I'd be ok with the sales tax if I felt I could count on the bureaucrats to manage it properly, but I can't I would like income taxes and property taxes throttled constitutionally. Actually a sales tax would get the "rich" to pay more taxes. They buy more and buy higher ticket items. I would exempt fruits, vegetables and other raw ingredients that are needed to prepare foods at home. I would also tax anything that contained partially hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup and anything else I couldn't pronounce. Less fortunate folks would have the means to live and everybody else would pay to the extent they consume.
I read an article recently where a person that installed solar in his home got the $51,000 price tag reduced to $27,000 through state and federal tax credits and APS rebates funded by your payments! Your tax dollars paid for most of that and the rich rip you off at your APS meter! (the poor don't install solar, but they pay electric bills). I ain't helping you folks raise any more taxes!
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Support the sales tax
I suppor the sales tax increase. But I find the Governor's pitch a little disingenuous. She might as well tell the truth -- Support the sales tax so I can can spend millions suing the Federal Government to bolster my teabagger credentials.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
another vote person
Vote No, Ron, Nancy Vince and the others, your comments are dead on target. Start cutting Government spending at all levels and start giving our children the education they deserve. Dumbing down has been going on way to long.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
honky brujo
I will vote yes, and then try and remove the Republicans from power in the Legislature. We need to make the rich pay their fair share instead of putting more taxes on the poor and working class.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
bud smith
I AM GOING TO VOTE NO. WHERE DOSE GOV. BREWER THINK I AM GOING TO GET THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THIS TAX ON A FIXED INCOME. I AM 79 YEARS OLD MAYBE I SHOULD GO BACK TO WORK.
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Al Adab
What is most interesting about the proponants of this 20% tax increase is that they hold out to the public the promise of Education funding and arts funding should the tax be approved. On the other hand however the state promises to cut school funding and return staterison inmates to the counties or origin to serve their sentences making the counties assume the financial burden. The increase goes to nicities and the cuts to essentials. Yep. In other words do as we want or we will punish you. Is that the government we want?
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Vince Krathers
Guess what Ms. Governor, in our home when we don't have extra money we tighten our belt. You need to spend less!!! Not take more from those of us that have so little. I will vote NO to prop 100!!
Posted: Friday, April 09, 2010
Article comment by:
Nancy O'Brien
I don't have a problem with a temporary tax to help in difficult economic times.
The problem is, "temporary" almost without exception, becomes "permanent," They figure once it's on the books, no one will care or fight to remove it.
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