Maricopa public schools spared major budget cuts by legislative action

Maricopa public schools averted major budget cuts and likely layoffs Wednesday following the Arizona Senate’s override of state-imposed spending limits for the remainder of this school year.

Had the Legislature not overridden the aggregate expenditure limit by March 1, Maricopa Unified School District, which serves more than 8,100 students in its 11 schools, would have been forced to severely reduce its budget – by more than $10 million, a whopping 17% – by April 1 for the final two months of this school year.

“It means we will actually be able to spend the allocated budget the state of Arizona has given us to operate our schools for the duration of the school year,” MUSD superintendent Dr. Tracey Lopeman said before Wednesday night’s Governing Board meeting. “We’re thankful for the Legislature recognizing the archaic nature of the aggregate expenditure limit.”

Nearly $1.3 billion was appropriated to public schools in the 2022 legislative session.

The Arizona Senate voted 23-7 on Feb. 8 in favor of House Concurrent Resolution 2001, which overrides the 1980s-era K-12 spending limit that is adjusted annually based on student population and inflation. The override had sailed through the state House a day earlier on a 46-14 vote.

Gov. Katie Hobbs, who was not required to sign off to make it effective, issued a statement of support Wednesday after the Senate vote.

“It means our teachers can focus on giving students every opportunity to achieve success,” Hobbs’ statement read.

“A month ago, during my State of the State Address, I called on the Arizona Legislature to override an archaic cap on school funding and free schools to use the funding already allocated to them in last year’s budget,” Hobbs said. “Today, the Legislature completed this long overdue action and showed our students, educators and parents that we can come together to do what’s right.

“The spending cap has been overridden: Our educators have assurance that schools will remain open and have access to the $1.3 billion that is due to them.”

Critics say the aggregate expenditure limit, a voter-approved Arizona constitutional amendment passed in 1980, prevents school districts like MUSD from spending money they already have if it puts them over the formula’s limit.

The Legislature, with a two-thirds vote, may approve a one-year override without the governor’s signature, which it has done several times since 1980. Yet the formula has not been amended or repealed.

According to Lopeman, an override failure would have significantly impacted staffing in schools and could have had a massive impact on Maricopa’s economy. MUSD employs more than 1,000 people, payroll accounting for about 85% of the district’s budget.

“It would be people that shop in the stores, the people that buy gas, all that,” Lopeman said. “We’re the largest employer here. If a bunch of them are without work and kids are at home, that creates a huge problem for the city of Maricopa.”

Sen. T.J. Shope, a Republican who represents Maricopa in legislative District 16 and is president pro tempore of the Arizona Senate, voted in favor of the bill, saying in a tweet Wednesday afternoon, “I’ve voted for every single budget that’s increased K-12 funding since I’ve been a Legislator.”