Ducey approves education tax extension until 2041

PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey inked his approval Monday to extending the 0.6-cent sales tax for education until 2041 as an education group that helped pressure for legislative action is mapping out what it plans to do to get some new money into classrooms — including a possible strike.

Noah Karvelis, a music teacher at Tres Rios Elementary School in Tolleson, said the “Red for Ed’’ demonstrations that may have helped push lawmakers and the governor to approve the extension will continue. But he said teachers are hoping for a broader agenda, including a demand that the tax cuts that have been annual features of the Ducey administration as well as of predecessor Jan Brewer come to a halt.

But that’s not going to happen.

Gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato said his boss remains committed to a tax break for military retirees, exempting the first $10,000 of their pensions from state income tax. The figure is currently $2,500, the same as for retirees from other government agencies.

That carries a price tag of $15 million a year when fully implemented.

Scarpinato said Ducey is not interested in other cuts this year. But he said that the future of other tax breaks making their way through the legislature, including a reduction in taxes on capital gains being pushed by House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, R-Chandler, will have to be part of whatever deal Ducey reaches with GOP legislative leaders. “We don’t negotiate the budget in the media,’’ he said.

Ducey was not pushing to extend the 0.6-cent levy in Proposition 301 this session. In fact, he wanted the question to go to the ballot — and not this year, when he is up for re-election.

But Rep. Doug Coleman, R-Apache Junction and Sen. Kate Brophy McGee, R-Phoenix, cobbled together a bipartisan coalition to get the two-thirds vote of both chambers that was necessary as, technically speaking, the extension is a new tax, taking over the moment the first one expires.

The legislative action also came amid grass-roots organization of teachers and students.

Much of it came together outside the scope of the Arizona Education Association. Instead teachers congealed around a Facebook page organized by Arizona Educators United formed in the wake of the West Virgnia teacher strike that got them a 5 percent pay hike.

The page already has more than 30,000 members.

Karvelis, who has become a spokesman for that group, said while extension of Proposition 301 is important, it should not be seen as moving the needle in teacher salaries.

“I mean (Proposition) 301 is a necessity,’’ he said. “That’s already in my paycheck, and I’m still taking home under $30,000. That’s absurd considering I have over $30,000 in student loans.’’

Most immediately, there are plans for “walk-ins’’ on Wednesday, before school hours, to gin up community support. But Karvelis said the situation may call for more.

“Our backs are against the wall, change needs to happen,’’ he said.

“We don’t want to go on strike,’’ Karvelis said. “But if that’s what it ultimately takes, we are prepared to essentially do that.’’