Dave Wells, Ph.D., Research Director, Grand Canyon Institute. Oct. 19, 2018

Transcription

1 1 Dave Wells, Ph.D., Research Director, Grand Canyon Institute Oct. 19, 2018

2 What is the Grand Canyon Institute? 2 Think tank that conducts public policy research Founded in 2011 as a 501(c)(3) non profit organization Bi-partisan board of directors including former lawmakers, executive-level civil servants, academics, and business and community leaders Evidenced-based research to support public policy guided by facts rather than ideology

3 Grand Canyon Institute Board of Directors 3 Former Lawmakers and Elected Officials George Cunningham, Susan Gerard, Pete Hershberger, Chris Herstam, Paul Johnson, Roberta Voss Lawyers Lucia Howard, Yvonne Hunter Economists, Public Administrators, Community & Business Leaders Jeff Chapman, Ph.D, Rick DeGraw, Sheridan Bailey, George Seitts, Tom Chapman, Linda Mazon-Gutierrez

4 Grand Canyon Institute 4 Staff Dave Wells, Ph.D.-Political Economy and Public Policy, Research Director Curtis Cardine-Fellow, Retired School Administrator and Charter School Founder Salomae Schroeder-Executive Assistant Amy Pedotto-Communications Manager Max Goshert-Marketing Manager and Sr. Research Associate Plus other interns or people brought on for specific projects

5 Grand Canyon Institute Research $10,700 per Student the Estimated Cost of Arizona s Private School Subsidy Programs (Sept. 2018) Getting Series About K-12 Educational Goals Costs $2 Billion Annually (April 2018) Red Flags: Net Losses Warning Signs in the Financial Data of Arizona s Public Charter Schools and Recommendations for Ensuring Sustainability (March 2018) Following the Money: Charter School Finances in Arizona (Sept. 2017) Education Measures and the Economy (Aug. 2016)/Arizona s Revenue Problem Undermines Economic Performance (Jan. 2017) Raising the Minimum Wage to $12 an hour: The Impact of Prop. 206 on Arizona (Oct. 2016) Restoring KidsCare: Annual and Long-Term Benefits Far Exceed Cost to the State (April 2016) 5

6 What IS Prop. 126? Prohibits state and local taxes on sale of services that were not already in place as of December 31, 2017 Why is that a problem? grandcanyoninstitute.org

7 Reason 1 Prop 126 cuts funding GCI s interpretation and the State Supreme Court will ultimately decide Any tax that expires and is renewed would lose any revenue source that is services (plus proposed ones) Education (Prop. 301 renewal) Transportation (County half cent sales taxes renewals needed soon) New or renewed taxes on 2018 ballot Mesa Police and Fire Tempe Arts Scottsdale Roads grandcanyoninstitute.org

8 $250 Million Cut to K-12 Starting in New Tax because old one expires in 2021 and needed a 2/3 vote in House and Senate and Governor s signature to pass it. Two-thirds votes are needed for new taxes due to Prop. 108.

9 Nearly 40% Cut in Transportation Funding Starting in

10 5 Mesa loses nearly 40% of New Tax (if passed) to Support Police & Fire Protection

11 Reason 2: Prop. 126 is Not Necessary How many times have taxes risen in the last 25 years without voter approval 1 time And that was this year to reauthorize the 0.6 cent sales tax on education during #RedforEd. first? grandcanyoninstitute.org

12 How Taxes Increase in Arizona Legislature or Localities Refer Measures to the Ballot VOTERS GET FINAL SAY ON WHETHER A TAX HAPPENS OR NOT Except for once in 25 years under special circumstances. grandcanyoninstitute.org

13 Reason 3: Why Amend Constitution? Prop. 126 is a pre-emptive poorly written effort at restricting our ability to have an open examination of tax reform. OPPOSE Prop. 126 Gov. Doug Ducey opposes Prop. 126 His challenger David Garcia opposes Prop. 126 The Koch-Funded Americans for Prosperity oppose Prop. 126 The Liberal Children s Action Alliance Opposes Prop grandcanyoninstitute.org

14 Pledge to Tell 4 Others to Vote No The Real Estate Lobby has spent $6 million to put this on the ballot and mislead the public. If you re convinced Prop. 126 is bad policy Please tell four other people to also vote NO on Prop. 126 And ask them to tell 4 others. Thank you. grandcanyoninstitute.org

15 Follow and Support GCI 20 If research like this matters to you, please consider a tax deductible donation to support our continuing work. Or sign up to join our list at our website. Donate online at grandcanyoninstitute.org or mail a donation to: The Grand Canyon Institute PO Box 1008 Phoenix, Arizona Thank You!