Highest paid public employees in AZ

[SassyLady]

The two don't really relate to each other. Money is spent on sports because sports brings in large amounts of revenue. There are 35 other college football head coaches who make more than Herm Edwards. And most college athletes have little expectation of a professional career. There may be other arguments against college athletics but I don't think this one goes anywhere.

I'm talking specifically about Arizona. The public schools are underfunded. College coaches are overpaid. They are governmental employees.

[fj1200]

I'm talking specifically about Arizona. The public schools are underfunded. College coaches are overpaid. They are governmental employees.

Then you have complaints without a solution. Arizona is probably not the only state with underfunded schools. College coaches are a national market and that's how much they earn. They, and others on the list, are governmental employees who run multi-million dollar organizations and can command high dollar pay packages. You can knock them down to whatever you believe to be not overpaid and Arizona will still have underfunded schools. You will also be limiting your talent pool to fill those positions.

[Gunny]

Coincidentally, I caught in a little blurb yesterday Coaches are the highest paid state employees in 39 states. I don't get it either. Pro football players when I was a kid had day jobs. The NFL paid so poorly quite a few transitioned into pro wrestling. It paid 5x as much.

One of the new laws here (in TX) this year is students can now make money on their "likenesses". When a football player can make more money than the President of the United States, the result is glaringly obvious.

[fj1200]

Coincidentally, I caught in a little blurb yesterday Coaches are the highest paid state employees in 39 states. I don't get it either. Pro football players when I was a kid had day jobs. The NFL paid so poorly quite a few transitioned into pro wrestling. It paid 5x as much.

One of the new laws here (in TX) this year is students can now make money on their "likenesses". When a football player can make more money than the President of the United States, the result is glaringly obvious.

Sports is big(ger) business these days.

[Abbey Marie]

Sassy, can you give some more examples of how the schools are under-funded there? I really want to understand. I don’t doubt you. Arizona may be different. Where we live the county and the state and the feds throw all kinds of money at the schools, give them free laptops, free breakfast and lunch all year long, bus the inner city kids to the suburbs and vice versa, yet things don’t improve.
I began to see that it isn’t a money problem. It’s either a “bad examples at home” problem, a “no father at home” problem, or both. IMO, there is no neighborhood so bad that having a family that values education and respects authority cannot overcome its influence.

[Kathianne]

Sassy, can you give some more examples of how the schools are under-funded there? I really want to understand. I don’t doubt you. Arizona may be different. Where we live the county and the state and the feds throw all kinds of money at the schools, give them free laptops, free breakfast and lunch all year long, bus the inner city kids to the suburbs and vice versa, yet things don’t improve.
I began to see that it isn’t a money problem. It’s either a “bad examples at home” problem, a “no father at home” problem, or both. IMO, there is no neighborhood so bad that having a family that values education and respects authority cannot overcome its influence.

Cost per pupil in my current hs district: $9500
Mr previous has district now: $19k
Almost exactly double.

[SassyLady]

Sassy, can you give some more examples of how the schools are under-funded there? I really want to understand. I don’t doubt you. Arizona may be different. Where we live the county and the state and the feds throw all kinds of money at the schools, give them free laptops, free breakfast and lunch all year long, bus the inner city kids to the suburbs and vice versa, yet things don’t improve.
I began to see that it isn’t a money problem. It’s either a “bad examples at home” problem, a “no father at home” problem, or both. IMO, there is no neighborhood so bad that having a family that values education and respects authority cannot overcome its influence.

Or being a border state is a problem. Plus, high level of poverty.

Arizona is one of eight states that does not increase funding to account for student poverty.

This article is from last year so things might have changed but I still think we're last in the nation.

https://edlawcenter.org/news/archives/other-states/how-to-improve-arizona%E2%80%99s-worst-in-the-nation-school-funding-system.html

[Abbey Marie]

Or being a border state is a problem. Plus, high level of poverty.

This article is from last year so things might have changed but I still think we're last in the nation.

[/FONT][/COLOR]https://edlawcenter.org/news/archives/other-states/how-to-improve-arizona%E2%80%99s-worst-in-the-nation-school-funding-system.html

The link isn’t “live”

[SassyLady]

Then you have complaints without a solution. Arizona is probably not the only state with underfunded schools. College coaches are a national market and that's how much they earn. They, and others on the list, are governmental employees who run multi-million dollar organizations and can command high dollar pay packages. You can knock them down to whatever you believe to be not overpaid and Arizona will still have underfunded schools. You will also be limiting your talent pool to fill those positions.

I'm OK with limiting talent pool. I think there are less athlete students and yet their programs get the majority of money....especially the coaches. Does AZ get payment for producing these athletes? Where is the ROI?

We produce athletes that go on to make millions at the cost of those students who are not athletes. Mind you, one of my stepsons went to San Diego State on scholarship so I'm all for athletics.

And, just because something "is" doesn't make it "right".

[fj1200]

I'm OK with limiting talent pool. I think there are less athlete students and yet their programs get the majority of money....especially the coaches. Does AZ get payment for producing these athletes? Where is the ROI?

We produce athletes that go on to make millions at the cost of those students who are not athletes. Mind you, one of my stepsons went to San Diego State on scholarship so I'm all for athletics.

And, just because something "is" doesn't make it "right".

Ticket sales, boosters, TV revenues, licensed merchandise...

Those are all arguable points but what is isn't necessarily wrong either and none of which will change Arizona's underfunded schools.

[SassyLady]

Ticket sales, boosters, TV revenues, licensed merchandise...

Those are all arguable points but what is isn't necessarily wrong either and none of which will change Arizona's underfunded schools.

It would if a portion of revenue produced went back to public schools instead of into coaches' pockets.

[fj1200]

It would if a portion of revenue produced went back to public schools instead of into coaches' pockets.

Knock Herm Edwards down to $1mm per year and take the resulting $2.5mm savings and divide by the 1mm (2012-2013 school year) students, ignore the resulting unintended consequences, and you'll get ~$2.50 per student. Add in a few more coaches and you'll soon be talking major dollars.

[SassyLady]

Knock Herm Edwards down to $1mm per year and take the resulting $2.5mm savings and divide by the 1mm (2012-2013 school year) students, ignore the resulting unintended consequences, and you'll get ~$2.50 per student. Add in a few more coaches and you'll soon be talking major dollars.

Arizona in 2020 passed Prop 208 which would tax wealthy people an additional tax just for school funding. Currently lawsuit is in progress because AZ Constitution says voters cannot mandate tax. Has to be law enacted by State Legislature.

Arizona Proposition 208, the Tax on Incomes Exceeding $250,000 for Teacher Salaries and Schools Initiative, was on the ballot in Arizona as an initiated state statute on November 3, 2020. Proposition 208 was approved.

A "yes" vote supported this ballot initiative to: * enact a 3.50% income tax, in addition to the existing income tax (4.50% in 2020), on income above $250,000 (single filing) or $500,000 (joint filing) and * distribute the revenue from the 3.50% income tax to teacher and classroom support staff salaries, teacher mentoring and retention programs, career and technical education programs, and the Arizona Teachers Academy.

A "no" vote opposed this ballot initiative, thus keeping the highest income tax rate at 4.50% (in 2020) on income above $159,000 (single filing) or $318,000 (joint filing).

https://ballotpedia.org/Arizona_Proposition_208,_Tax_on_Incomes_Exceeding_ $250,000_for_Teacher_Salaries_and_Schools_Initiati ve_(2020)