Board Denounces Ballot Measure to Eliminate Early Education Commitment to Arizona’s Youngest Kids; Urges Arizonans to Get Involved
PHOENIX – The First Things First Board has resolved to oppose a ballot measure that would eliminate voter-approved educational and health services for kids five and younger. The measure would sweep the dedicated tobacco revenue into the general fund to be used at the discretion of the Legislature.
The Board’s resolution – passed unanimously at its May 18 meeting in Window Rock – urges all Arizonans to get involved in efforts to defeat the measure by educating voters about the impact of current First Things First strategies around the state and by voting no in November.
Earlier this year, the Republican majority in the Legislature sent the measure to the November ballot. The move followed months of intense efforts by First Things First to preserve early education and health services by loaning the money to the state instead.
“First Things First tried for months to help the state solve its current financial crisis and still maintain educational and health services for our youngest kids,” FTF Board Chair Steve Lynn said after the meeting.
“At the request of state political leadership, we increased the amount of the loan, we agreed to forgo $30 million in interest, and we secured enough legislative commitments – from both Republicans and Democrats – to pass the loan option,” Lynn said. “If Legislative leaders had been willing to let the loan offer come before their members, Arizona voters, and Arizona’s children would be in a much different position right now.”
Instead, voters will have to decide if they want to eliminate essentials – such as quality child care, early literacy programs, parenting support for at-risk families, oral health treatments for infants and toddlers and programs to prevent child injuries or childhood obesity – in order to give those funds to state lawmakers to decide what they get spent on.
“I believe lawmakers have seriously underestimated Arizona voters,” Lynn said. “Voters want our kids to come to kindergarten ready to succeed; that’s why they passed First Things First in 2006 and that’s why they will reject the attempt to kill it now.”
Nadine Mathis Basha, a Board member who is leading the campaign to save First Things First, said after the meeting that Arizona voters will have plenty of reasons to defeat this measure.
“There are those who will vote against killing First Things First because they are tired of politicians balancing the budget on the backs of kids. There are those who will vote against it because they believe in preserving what the voters of Arizona approved in 2006. And, there are those who will vote against it in order to preserve education and health services that help build a foundation for our kids to grow and learn,” Basha said. “Whatever their reason for voting against it, they will be right.”
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First Things First was created in 2006, when Arizona voters – through the Proposition 203 ballot initiative – decided to set aside 80 cents from each pack of cigarettes sold in order to fund the expansion of education and health programs for children from birth through age five. Under the terms of the proposition, decisions about how to best use the funds are made on a per‐region basis by 31 councils made up of local leaders. The statewide board – which has final approval of the councils’ recommendations – is responsible for ensuring that the funds are used on programs proven to work at improving outcomes for children.