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Legislation/VoterVoiceDear Arizona Charter School Supporters,
The good news for the 2008 session is that schools retained much of their funding in comparison to immense state budget cuts.
In student funding, the additional assistance and BaseSupport Level amounts for charter school funding were increased by the anticipated two percent. The amounts as amended by the state budget for additional assistance are $1,474.16 for K-8 grades and $1,718.10 for grades 9-12. The Base Support Level increases from $3,226.88 to $3,291.42 for FY 2008-2009. While the Classroom Site Fund is not an appropriated amount, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimates the per pupil amount will decrease from $401 to $390 per pupil based on declining sales tax revenues.
In 2008 session, 1,380 bills were introduced and 315 became law. The Charter Association has a complete listing of all new laws summarized for your review. The new laws will become effective on September 26, 2008, unless written otherwise in the signed bill.
The Association had three priority bills. Two were signed into law by the Governor, and the third bill was vetoed by the Governor after passing through the legislature. The two bills that the Association advocated on behalf of its schools include HB 2563 – Transfer credits; notice; examination and HB 2330 - Property tax exemption; charter schools. The Governor vetoed SB 1406 – Impact fees – which would have restricted the ability of counties to impose impact fees. The transfer of credit should allow public school students to move among public schools. The property tax exemption has already saved charters close to $200,000 – and the bill has not even become law! The bill states property and buildings owned by a nonprofit organization that operates as a charter school are exempt from taxation if the property is used for education and is not used or held for profit. This bill is important because some schools forget to file their annual exemption or buy property mid-year and are forced to pay a full year of property taxes. In future years, the Association will continue to work on the property tax issue for our public charter schools. The Association also defended charter schools in many bills. As always, the Association would like to hear from you on what is working and what is not. Call, write, or email the Association to inform us how Arizona’s laws can be strengthened to benefit Arizona’s school children. For more information on the 2008 Legislative Session, please review our final report. Sincerely, Eileen B. Sigmund, Esq.
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