Arizona Schools Face Funding Delays Amid $200 Million Shortfall
PHOENIX — Arizona school districts and charter schools may receive only 60% of their regular monthly Basic State Aid payments this June due to a $200 million shortfall. Superintendent Tom Horne emphasized the urgency for the state legislature to address this financial gap before June 13. Basic State Aid is crucial for operational costs, including staff salaries, and varies based on local property taxes.
The shortfall is the result of several factors: higher-than-expected costs for Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), reduced property tax collections, and unexpected adjustments related to school enrollment. Education advocates have raised concerns about the impact of this uncertainty on school budgets. Paul Tighe, executive director of the Arizona School Administrators Association, noted that many districts lack significant financial reserves to cushion against delays.
State Senator John Kavanagh assured that the legislature is aware of the Arizona Department of Education’s needs and intends to provide necessary funding when the budget is finalized by the end of June. Horne stated that while payments may be delayed, they should eventually be fully disbursed, alleviating immediate financial stress for schools.
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