Horne says he'll make up for lost federal funds for school resource officers with state money

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said his department will make up for some of the federal funding that’s being held up by the Trump administration.

The money he’s referring to is specifically set aside for school resource officers.

The U.S. Department of Education was due to release about $6 billion for five federal programs across the country on July 1, but didn’t. Of that, Arizona is due about $118 million.

Now Horne says he’s committed to making up for the $70,000 that would’ve gone to paying for school resource officers.

“The federal government has delayed paying it while they review projects," Horne said. "They haven’t actually canceled anything, but in the meantime, I’m gonna fill it with state money.”

In an email to KJZZ, an Arizona Department of Education spokesperson said there are about eight or nine officers funded by the federal government, which can easily be made up for with money from the current state school safety program.

“The program continues as it was and every school resource officer will continue where they are," Horne said.

Horne said the federal government is supposed to release another $24 million in grants for Arizona after school programs and the Boys and Girls Club.