By
Ryan Gabrielson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
$15 million could be funneled to UA if passed
Whether the UA gains a victory of "spirit" is in the hands and wallets of Arizona's voters.
Although only about three percent of the revenue generated by the Proposition 301 sales-tax increase would go toward the University of Arizona, it means much more in terms of voter support for education, UA President Peter Likins said.
If the proposition - dubbed "Education 2000" - passes, "it's a signal that the people of this state have moved education to the top of their priority list," Likins said.
Following a rough battle in the state legislature, the initiative - a 0.6 sales-tax increase that could pump $444 million into Arizona's educational system its first year - now awaits the Nov. 7 election to determine its fate.
If passed, the UA would receive $15 million of the $44.8 million allocated to the three state universities.
Most of the revenue, about $320 million, would go toward K-12 education to help create smaller classes, increase teacher salaries and fund capital projects, said Francie Noyes, spokeswoman for Gov. Jane Hull.
An additional $70 million would go toward eliminating the Students First program debt.
Though the sales-tax increase will bring in $444 million its first year, Noyes said she expects that number to grow in the following years.
At the UA, that funding would likely go toward supporting high-technology projects that would normally require decision packages, said Charlene Ledet, UA special assistant for state relations.
"It becomes what industry is going to need," Ledet said.
Though the additional revenue could potentially go toward the technological fields being studied at the UA, the K-12 system would feel a greater impact.
"It has a domino effect," Ledet said. "It's basically a mandate supporting education in general."
"It will create an employee pool, create a knowledge source."
While Hull fought to gain support in the legislature, Noyes said she doesn't expect Arizona voters to show opposition to the sales-tax increase.
"The polls look very good," she said, and added that some show a 60 percent approval for the proposition.
Even though the polls show that many voters are in favor of Proposition 301, George Davis, provost and vice president for academic affairs, said he's not celebrating yet.
"It is elevating," Davis said. "(I am) quietly optimistic, I'm knocking on wood."
