PHOENIX — On Wednesday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled in favor of the “Invest in Education” initiative campaign, sending the measure to the voters in November. The Court unanimously overturned a lower court finding that the wording on petitions inaccurately described what the initiative would do if passed.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Coury had found that the 100-word summary on the petitions voters signed was vague and inaccurate. The judge also found that the organizers illegally paid petition circulators per signature.
The Supreme Court found that “the 100-word description did not create a significant danger of confusion or unfairness and reverses the trial court ruling.”
Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman tweeted, “Educators worked tirelessly to give Arizonans the option of increasing public school funding in November. I’m grateful for today’s unanimous AZ Supreme Court decision. Let’s get to work to #InvestinED!”
Educators worked tirelessly to give Arizonans the option of increasing public school funding in November. I’m grateful for today’s unanimous AZ Supreme Court decision. Let’s get to work to #InvestinED! https://t.co/SXIB2cV0Uq
— Kathy Hoffman (@kathyhoffman_az) August 19, 2020
While teachers might be getting ready to work on passing the initiative, some are discussing ways to avoid returning to the classroom. Members of the Arizona Education Association, which describes itself as a “professional association and a labor union,”have argued that teachers should not return to the classroom until there is no community spread, or a vaccine is available and widely distributed.
According to the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, the initiative would increase education funding by imposing “a 3.5 percent surcharge on taxable income above $250,000 for a single person or $500,000 for married persons. The surcharge would create a new top rate of 9 percent, giving Arizona one of the highest income tax rates in the nation. And this won’t be a tax just on the wealthy — small businesses that file as LLC and S-Corps would be affected by this measure as well. Proponents estimate $940 Million to be generated from the initiative, making it the largest income tax increase in State history.”