Oppose HCR 2007 - Unfair Mandate That Defunds Public Schools

I urge you to oppose HCR 2007 when it comes before the House Appropriations Committee on Monday. This resolution sponsored by Representative Matt Gress would impose an unfair 60 percent direct instructional spending mandate on public district schools while exempting charter schools and private schools receiving ESA voucher funding. Schools unable to meet this threshold would have the difference withheld from their state funding, effectively defunding institutions already struggling with inadequate resources. Arizona public schools are not spending less on classroom instruction because of wasteful practices. They are being squeezed by persistent legislative underfunding, spiraling operational costs, and minuscule annual inflation adjustments that fail to keep pace with real expenses. The $1 billion drained annually into ESA vouchers has created a fiscal crisis forcing many schools to close their doors entirely. Imposing an arbitrary spending ratio under these conditions punishes schools for circumstances beyond their control. If the legislature is genuinely concerned about waste and fraud, it should look at the programs it exempts from this mandate. The average charter school spends 22 percent on administration, double what district schools spend. Meanwhile, 20 percent of ESA voucher purchases are for disallowed items, representing massive misuse of taxpayer dollars with minimal oversight. Yet HCR 2007 targets only traditional public schools serving the majority of Arizona students. This resolution creates a two-tiered accountability system that disadvantages the schools most Arizona families depend on. District schools educating students with the highest needs and in the most challenging circumstances would face financial penalties while better-resourced alternatives face no such requirements. I ask you to vote no on HCR 2007 and instead work toward equitable funding solutions that support all Arizona students without punishing the schools serving them.