Paula on the Issues - Budget
"People's needs first -- before any tax cuts."
Arizona is enjoying a very large surplus this year and many citizens would like to see those added dollars spent wisely. A new statewide poll shows most voters favor investing Arizona's $1 billion surplus into better roads and education instead of permanent tax cuts. Nearly 56 percent of even Republicans who were polled would rather take care of the growing needs of a fast-growing state rather than take a tax cut.
For many years, the budgets of various state agencies were cut drastically and the needs of many families were neglected because of lack of revenue. In 2007's budget projections there will be a large surplus that can go towards addressing the neglected needs of our state. After replenishing the "rainy day fund," Senator Aboud supports putting the needs of children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities first, as well as increasing the salaries for teachers and corrections officers. She is not in support of tax cuts, but if funds are sent back to the taxpaying citizens, she supports the use of rebates instead of tax cuts. She is fighting for these needs for Southern Arizona citizens as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Teachers Salaries and All Day Kindergarten
Senator Aboud, as a former high school English teacher, is a passionate advocate for the Governor's proposal to raise teachers' pay and to establish a minimum salary of $30,000. She also supports helping teachers and school employees absorb rising health care and retirement costs
Senator Aboud also supports Governor Napolitano's plan to provide full day kindergarten to every child in this state so that each and every child has the opportunity for success. She is opposed to the Republican proposal to let schools choose between teacher raises and all day kindergarten.
Department of Corrections
Arizona is authorized to have 6,231 corrections officers statewide, but approximately 1,351, or 22 percent, of those positions are vacant. The vacancy rate at the Tucson complex is 23 percent. In addition, more than 25% of the prisons' critical security posts are being covered by officers who are working overtime. Just the overtime spending in fiscal year 2006 will exceed $40 million.
The problem comes down to attracting and retaining corrections officers with competitive salaries. Starting pay for Arizona State prison officers is $29,014, but Pima County starts its guards at nearly $35,000 and the federal Bureau of Prisons, which has a facility in Tucson and another one being built, offers $41,000. It's no wonder people are leaving the state and going to other agencies where they'll receive better pay and won't have to work as hard.
Too many corrections officers are working overtime hours, which jeopardize their lives as they interact with dangerous populations when they are tired from working long shifts. A raise in their salaries is long overdue. Arizona must stop record-high turnover and help keep tenured officers whose on-the-job experience is critical to our success and our community's safety. In addition, a budget increase will help cut overtime spending and reverse the 22 percent vacancy rate, enabling DOC to attract qualified applicants.
The state is tough on crime. It's time to be smart about recruiting and retaining the Department of Correction's finest officers, too. It's time to take good care of the men and women in DOC.
Senator Aboud advocates for and supports funding the Department of Corrections budget. Her passionate appeal to the Appropriations Committee helped secure the full funding for the installation of new prison doors and locks which will provide greater safety for the officer working in the units.