Republicans unite behind Ducey to boost education funding

PHOENIX — Republican leaders in the Arizona Legislature were satisfied with the $10.4 billion budget that Gov. Doug Ducey signed Thursday morning, after long hours of negotiations on education funding.

“The Legislature’s priority in this budget is crystal clear: K-12 education,” House Speaker J.D. Mesnard said in a statement.

Ducey had run into obstacles from House legislators on funding his education proposal, which included a 20 percent pay raise for teachers by 2020.

The House and Senate began working on education funding in earnest April 26, the first day of a statewide teacher walkout that would still be going a week later.

“This is a fiscally sound budget that funds Governor Ducey’s 20×2020 teacher pay plan and begins to restore additional assistance – all without raising taxes,” Senate President Steve Yarbrough said in a statement.

“That’s an achievement that Governor Ducey and my colleagues in the Legislature should be proud of.

“The hard work we’ve done with budgeting in the Legislature over the past few years helped put us in a position to provide funding for unprecedented pay raises for our outstanding teachers, without raising taxes.”

State Sen. John Kavanagh told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac and Gaydos that it was fair that the deal would not have “been accomplished to the degree” that it was without the pressure from teachers.

“Twenty percent in two years is a monumental pay increase,” he said.

“Granted, there was a lot of pay raises to make up because of the Recession that we had, but it was an unbelievably high pay raise and no, that would not have happened if the pressure had not been turned up.”

Funding was to come, in part, from a boost in revenue and diverting special funds.

No Democrats voted for the budget.

“You know, talk is pretty cheap — it’s your vote that counts,” Republican Rep. Anthony Kern said. “If Republicans voted with Democrats tonight, you would be walking away with zero.”

Diane Douglas, the superintendent of the state Department of Education, told KTAR News 92.3 FM that she was very pleased that teachers were returning to class, but expressed concern with the questions they would have to face.

“We’re getting a lot of questions from parents, what about graduation? What about finals? Could it impact college for seniors?” she said.

“I think we still have some things to work through but hopefully without any adverse affects to our students.”

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mark Carlson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Follow @KTAR923