Superintendent Hoffman Again Calls for a Special Legislative Session to Stop Budget Cuts

Superintendent Hoffman Formally Notifies Legislative Leaders that District Schools Face a $1.39 Billion Cut Due to the Aggregate Expenditure Limit

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman today officially informed legislative leaders that expenditures made by Arizona’s district schools would exceed the aggregate expenditure limit by $1.39 billion this fiscal year. The antiquated spending cap threatens district schools with a nearly eighteen percent budget cut in the spring should lawmakers fail to lift the spending cap.

“If we fail to lift the cap, students attending district schools will undoubtedly see larger class sizes, school closures, layoffs, and an even worse teacher shortage crisis,” said Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman. “The time to solve this issue is now. It is time for state leaders to stop playing politics with school budgets, and instead give certainty to educators and families by calling a special session to lift the cap immediately.

During her annual State of Education address to the Arizona State Senate’s Education Committee in February, Superintendent Hoffman called on the legislature to prevent future AEL budget cuts by referring a repeal of the cap to voters. The legislature did not act on bills aimed at giving voters the chance to repeal the cap once and for all. The Superintendent also called on the legislature to resolve the issue this summer in a July letter. 

Superintendent Hoffman’s full letter can be found in the attachment.