Gov. Doug Ducey is facing a philosophical compromise, whether to support extending a voter approved 0.6 cent education sales tax, or let it expire.
In 2000, voters approved Proposition 301, which included a temporary sales tax that would end in 2020. Currently, the state counts on it to cover $650 million in annual teacher’s pay.
Voters could extend the tax if Arizona GOP House and Senate leaders agree to put the issue up for a public vote on the next election ballot. That’s more likely to happen with Ducey’s blessings.
But, in 2012, while he still served as State Treasurer, Ducey opposed a similar temporary 1 cent sales tax passed in 2010’s Proposition 100 and allowed the tax to expire.
Five years later, and after fighting for the passage of Proposition 123 to raise education funding, he appears to have a different view on allowing that to happen with Prop 301’s funding.
“We didn’t work this hard on 123 to come up on a cliff,” Ducey said in his first interview on the issue.
Avoiding the word “tax” whenever possible, Ducey explained it would be irresponsible to let that funding program expire.
He only committed to say he is having conversations about the funding, “So that we can make sure we have successful resources and reforms going forward."
Education advocates have urged him to support bumping the tax up to a full penny, which would raise an additional $400 million annually.
House Speaker JD Mesnard said he thinks he could corral the votes to put maintaining the levy on the ballot.
"I think there would be a lot of support for extending it,'' Mesnard said. "Expanding it, I think is going to face a bigger hurdle.''
A recent education poll found 77 percent of voters surveyed would support extending the current 0.6 cent sales tax.
Voter support dropped slightly to 66 percent when asked if the tax should expand to a full penny.