PHOENIX - A budget balancing deal is almost done that would erase more than $3 billion dollars in debt over the next couple of years.
If the budget passes education is going to take a major hit, which means about a $750 million cut that would affect every school from kindergarten to universities.
The fear among educators is that the cuts will be made equally regardless of the size or wealth of individual districts.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne explains, "We're losing our adult education, where people can get GEDs. We're losing all-day kindergarten, which is a major blow to the academic progress of the kids later on. We're losing school resource officers, policemen in schools that are in high-crime areas that have been a big help.”
A one cent sales tax increase could help spare some programs. This will go to voters in a special May 18 election.
