The sponsor of legislation providing an additional funding source for Arizona’s K-12 classrooms, is calling out Governor Katie Hobbs for what he says is her “hypocritical veto” despite her repeated calls for more funding for classrooms.
“Governor Hobbs continuously preaches she wants more money for public schools, but when my bill to provide just that was sent to her desk, her response didn’t match her constant virtue signaling,” said Senator Vince Leach. “Vetoing SB 1050 was a missed opportunity by the Governor, and it was likely driven by partisan motivations.”
Leach’s bill, SB 1050, would have prohibited tax revenues designated for school districts from being abated within the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) program. The GPLET program allows cities and towns to lease government-owned property to private parties for commercial, residential rental, or industrial purposes and provide them with certain property tax exemptions. Revenues designated for school districts would have been removed from the exemptions outlined, allowing more dollars to flow into classrooms.
“In her veto letter, Governor Hobbs said the bill ‘has the potential to stunt Arizona’s economic development.’ She would rather pad the bank accounts of rich developers with tax exemptions, instead of prioritizing Arizona’s teachers and students,” said Leach. “Needless to say, I’m baffled by this bizarre veto that goes against her purported priorities of funding our schools.”
Hobbs has accused Republicans of using the crisis her administration created to their advantage.