Every year, around the end of February, the Arizona Auditor General releases its
SCHOOL SPENDING ANALYSIS. The latest report, for fiscal year 2024, was released February 28.
These are very thorough reports. They include detailed data for the state overall and for each district in the state. This enables voters to learn exactly what is going on with their individual districts.
For the twentieth year in a row, the news is not good for citizens who are concerned about how their tax dollars are spent by most school districts. The report shows that while funding is at an all-time high, the share of funds spent on student instruction is an all-time low.
Not all school districts are equally irresponsible when it comes to this issue. In fact, 82 districts of 206 increased the percentage of funds spent on student instruction. However, that is only 39.8% of school districts. A significant majority of 58.3%, 120 districts, reduced their spending on student instruction. It is the action of those 120 districts that brought down the total numbers.
The following chart, which is part of the Arizona Auditor General’s report, shows clearly the 20-year decline in the percentage of funds allocated to instruction spending.
Lately, this pattern of reduction in the share of funds going to the classroom has gotten the attention of legislators. They continue to increase funding, often exceeding the expenditure limits imposed by Proposition 109 of 1980, yet most school districts continue to shortchange the classroom.
In a recent News Release, the chairman of the House Education Committee, Rep. Matt Gress (LD4), had this to say:
“Arizona school districts have more resources today than ever before,” said Chairman Gress. “The state’s $16 billion K-12 education program provides more than $15,000 per pupil. Yet, once again, district leadership has disproportionately allocated money to areas other than instruction. Collectively, school districts have $7.8 billion in ending fund balances—an astonishing sum. Arizonans have sent a message, loud and clear: they want more money spent in the classroom, and districts appear to be ignoring it.”
Perhaps in the future, more strings will be attached to school funding to ensure that instruction spending gets its proper share.
Thank you Mr. Borrajerro for telling the truth when no on else will!
BUT,BUT how can this be? Unions and the dept of indoctrination claim that students are their 1st priority, well maybe after self. Now you know why that mr trump says to close the department. I worked for a school system and they gave a 1.5% pay increase but then went on to say if one of the new voter initiatives they would grand ANOTHER 1.5%. Never saw anything on it in the paycheck! AQdmin types needed new carpeting/desks etc,, AC for kids was optional it seems. No this is a continuing problem and current pols who have been there for years need to be voted out at state and federal levels as well as local school boards who pay high $$ for shool admin (ie. tucsons sanchez of a few years ago) at the expense of the kids and blue collar employees.
Gee, who would have ever guessed that the public education system is the new slush fund for liberals and unions. They scream for more money but continue to spend on everything but class time and education. What could possibly go wrong.