Leaders ponder best time to put education sales tax extension on ballot

Regional News

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Extending a retooled version of Proposition 301, a 0.6-cent sales tax increase for public schools that is set to expire in 2021, now has the likely support of major players in state politics.

While there’s some support for putting a measure on the 2018 ballot, it appears Gov. Doug Ducey and his allies, notably the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, believe they have several years to iron out the details before putting a measure on a 2020 ballot.

There are arguments to be made either way – 2018 will be a midterm election, with a lower voter turnout that tends to skew a bit older and more conservative, making 2020 a more favorable option for those who want to pass a spending measure.

But if backers of a proposal wait until 2020 and a measure fails, there’s no time to come back and try again, meaning Prop. 301 would expire, leaving schools with holes in their budgets in 2021.

And last year’s Prop. 123 appears to be an argument against a special election, as the measure barely passed despite not requiring any direct funding from taxpayers’ pockets. The measure drew opposition from both sides, as Democrats said it was a raw deal for schools and some conservatives said schools already spend too much.