Monday October 8, 2001

The officials, faculty and students at the University of Arizona are very aware of the budget deficit in our state. But, it's also important to realize that the $13.8 million cut from the UA budget is a mere sliver of the $1.6 billion budget shortfall that Arizona state officials expect.

Recently, UA officials, students and the Arizona Daily Wildcat discussed ways that the university can break the fall if we do, in fact, stumble. University of Arizona President Peter Likins enacted a hiring freeze; building and renovation projects are postponed, and tuition hikes have been considered. But in the end, the UA is a state-supported institution. and any and all money problems must be fixed at the state level.

The UA is just one state-funded program that could be affected seriously by the current budget woes. Teachers' raises, freeway construction, mental health services and youth sports facilities are just a few of the projects that will be set back in the name of financial belt-tightening. The UA is just one institution that is suffering because of the economic slowdown.

The budget woes are unusually acute this year because more than half of the state's revenues are derived from sales taxes. Sales taxes are volatile and unpredictable. Because of the looming recession and the significant drop in tourism because of both financial woes and impending war, the state is not getting the revenues that it anticipated because officials were shortsighted and careless with the budget.

Instead of maintaining a healthy balance between sales and income tax, the financially conservative state Legislature chose to cut income taxes. Since 1994, the state of Arizona's tax base has been cut by 18 percent. Republicans and Democrats pushed for these cuts together. The result was a state budget dependent on an unsustainable level of economic activity and consumer sentiment. The state Legislature must right its past wrongs on Nov. 13 when it holds a special session to deal with Arizona's financial mess.

On Nov. 13, the state Legislature must hold its head high and shamelessly support a raise in income tax. Financial conservatives must sleep in the bed they've made, wake up and realize that their decisions created the difficult problem we are facing.

K-through-12 education cannot suffer more cuts, nor can corrections, DES, health services or universities. The residents of this state are notoriously opposed to taxes, which is understandable. However, Arizonans will soon realize that without a raise of income taxes, their quality of life, the education of their children and dignity of this state will suffer.

The state of Arizona is responsible for this university. But it's not just responsible for making sure the mall is green, classrooms have desks and someone takes attendance. The state is responsible for ensuring that our university moves forward as a prestigious and notable institution of higher learning. And that goes for other state programs as well - the state is responsible for the education of our young people, the functionality of our prisons and the upkeep of roads. When the members of the state Legislature meet on Nov, 13, they must realize an income-tax raise is not only their responsibility, but a necessity.

Staff editorials are the collaborative stance of the Arizona Daily Wildcat's opinions board.