Tucson, Arizona, Sales Tax For Early Childhood Education, Proposition 204 (November 2017)

Strong Start Tucson (SST) will provide scholarships for 6500-8000 of Tucson's 14,000 three and four year-olds who cannot afford to attend high-quality preschool.

Children who attend high-quality preschool start school ready to learn, because 90% of their brain-volume development happens before kindergarten. Nobel Prize-winning economist Heckman found that they do better in school and work. Expenditures for high-quality preschool are offset by reduced need for special education, social services and prisons, and by improved health, self-sufficiency and productivity.

SST will level the playing field, enabling rich, poor and middle-class families to send their children to high-quality preschool.

Scholarships will depend on family size and income. Many low-income children will receive full scholarships. High-quality preschools open whenever there are kids who can afford to attend. Public schools have the capacity and desire to offer high-quality preschool. SST will provide new funding allowing them to do so.

Which is more important: scholarships or one penny more for an ice cream cone? Though the 0.5 cent sales tax will cost the average Tucsonan $36 annually, families with young children will be eligible for thousands of dollars in scholarships. Wealthier families pay more because they spend more on taxable items (Food, medicine and rent are not taxed.) SST will be frugal and fiscally responsible, supporting only high-quality preschool; only high-quality makes a lasting impact. The SST Commission will articulate the high-quality standards. At least 92% of the approximately $50 million annual fund will address the cost and availability of high-quality preschool. At most, 8% will be spent on administrative costs. With SST, Tucson can promote every child's success, reduce poverty, and improve the economic climate of our community. Let every child shine.^[3]

Let's give all our children a strong start for their future. Everyone knows a high-quality early childhood education is the most important factor in giving children the power to be successful.

Education is power, and all parents want that power for their children to reach their potential, not only for their children but for their community. Children who go to high quality preschool perform better in school, complete more years of education, and become productive members of a more educated workforce. There are 14,000 three and four-year-olds in Tucson. Currently, only 16% of them attend high-quality early education.

It's tough for moms and dads today to pay the cost of preschool-about $800 a month per child for high quality. Often the cost of preschool is unaffordable and the unavoidable result is that the parent must stay home instead of getting a job.

Don't hold your breath for our state legislature to do an about-face and suddenly begin to fund public education. As a former member of the State House, I can tell you that change is unlikely in the immediate future. Meanwhile, we have children to raise and it is in all of our best interests to give them the strongest start possible.

Children's advocacy groups have worked tirelessly for eight years to restore state-wide assistance for child care for working families, which was virtually eliminated in 2009. Thousands of families are on the "wait forever" list. Tucson's children can't wait for state legislators to have a change of heart.

Tucsonans have voted for smooth roads and safe streets. Now we need to support a bright future and a strong start for all our kids.^[3]

Education is the vaccine that cures crime and mass incarceration, and the sooner it begins the more effective the cure. Children who attend high-quality pre-schools are 28% less likely to develop alcohol or drug problems or wind up in jail, 22% less likely to be arrested for a felony, and 24% more likely to attend a four-year college. While quality Pre-K is astonishingly effective at rupturing the school-to-prison pipeline, its modest price is even more awe-inspiring, specially when compared to the costs of the criminal justice system. By increasing the city sales tax by a half-cent - spending one penny more on a $2 ice cream cone - we can save billions of taxpayer dollars. Arizona currently spends $20,000 more annually on each inmate than it does on each student in its school system. Between 2007 and 2017 the budget for the Arizona Department of Corrections increased 28.4%, while K - 12 spending increased 2.8%. We need to immediately reverse these numbers. Every $1 we spend on education returns more than $2 to our pockets in reduced prison costs, to say nothing of reduced welfare costs, reduced medical costs, and reduced public safety costs.

Schools are exponentially cheaper than prisons. This is why Proposition 204 is not a tax increase - it is in fact a dramatic tax cut.

Vote for Proposition 204 because high-quality early education saves money, supports children, values families, and makes Tucson a stronger, safer, and better community.^[3]

As Superintendent of Flowing Wells School District, preparing students for a successful future was my highest priority. To create future-ready children, FWSD developed a high-quality 5-Star rated preschool, the Emily Meschter Early Learning Center.

Now as the Ernest W. McFarland Chair in Education at NAU, I advocate for education throughout the state, nation and internationally. I know the importance of early childhood education.

Investment in high-quality early education pays off. It pays off because it closes the achievement gap between poor children and wealthier ones. It pays off by ensuring that children have educated, caring teachers. Extensive research shows that children who attend high-quality preschool are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college.

Strong Start Tucson will provide Tucson's three and four year olds with the opportunities they need to make a successful early beginning on their life-long education journey. SST is the smartest investment we can make: an investment in our kids and our community's future. SST will make significant progress towards reaching the goal of high quality early education for ALL children.

John F. Kennedy once said "We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard; because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one we intend to win ..... We need to take the same approach to early childhood education. I strongly support Strong Start Tucson. Please vote yes on Proposition 204.^[3]

There are many excellent reasons to support SST. Many of them boil down to the good things SST will do for the children who participate: improved school performance, fewer drop-outs, less trouble the law. But what about the benefits for the rest of us?

What's in it for us?

The short story is: Lots! Some benefits are the flip side of those for the participants: Less crime problems mean fewer prisons to build and guards to pay. Fewer health problems mean fewer doctor and ER visits and days off work -- all real economic savings for the rest of the community.

SST will also trigger important economic gains. Firms considering Tucson as a location for a start-up or expansion invariably ask: "Will we be able to recruit the well-educated employees we'll need?" Whether they're seeking applicants with high-school diplomas or advanced graduate degrees, the firms we want to attract look for a thriving education system, and so do their employees. If we are to grow Tucson's economy into the high-tech, knowledge-based, high-wage world of the future, we simply cannot afford to waste the talent and potential that school drop outs and failures represent. The research evidence is clear: Success in school is hugely boosted when children enter kindergarden prepared to learn. SST will provide that preparation.

I think a compelling case for SST can be made simply on altruistic grounds: It will be good for the children. But a still stronger case can be made on economic grounds: It will be good for the rest of us too. It's simply too good a bargain for Tucson, as well as its children, a strong start!^[3]

Voting for Strong Start Tucson is a vote for children. It is one of the strongest, most cost effective investments we can make in our community. It is also, quite simply, the right thing to do for children. Children that attend high quality preschool enter kindergarten ready to succeed in both school and life.

The board and staff of The Early Childhood Development Group (ECDG) work to ensure early childhood educators have the education and resources required to offer high quality early childhood education. While our agency does not operate preschools, experience and research both tell us the cost of high quality care is unaffordable to most Tucson families. We believe our community has both an obligation and a desire to help every child escape poverty and succeed.

We know the Strong Start Tucson commission, appointed by the Mayor and Council, will use evidence based quality measures to ensure tax dollars are used effectively; and, we know from analysis that when these measures and assessment tools are used the return on our investment is enormous. Fewer children will require special education services. More children will graduate high school and attend college. More people will be employed and contributing members of our workforce. In fact, the recent report on the benefits of high quality preschool published by the Minneapolis Federal Reserve Bank (https://www.minneapolisfed.org) makes us even more excited to invest in Strong Start Tucson! We value actions that contribute to positive change for our community. Please join us in voting for Strong Start Tucson.^[3]

As a pediatric physical therapist, I spent my career working in preschool programs, assisting with integrating children with special needs and with teacher education. I consulted in classrooms and participated in helping preschools receive the recognition as high quality. I had the opportunity to work with outstanding agencies in Tucson, including Child and Family Resources and Easter Seals Blake Foundation. These respected agencies have been at the forefront of providing continuing education and consultation to preschools.

There is no mystery as to what is a high-quality preschool. First Things First, Arizona's publically funded program, uses nationally recognized, rigorously tested, reliable measures to rate preschools throughout Arizona. There are a number of preschools in Tucson who satisfy the strict criteria used by the First Things First program, and are therefore designated high-quality preschools. New preschools in Tucson continue to be rated.

Too many Tucson families cannot afford to send their children to a high quality preschool, and Tucson does not have enough high-quality preschools to fulfill the need for all the children who need them. Through Strong Start Tucson funding, preschools throughout the city will be able to hire and train excellent teachers and offer high-quality programs. Most crucially, kids will get the high quality preschools they need--if we pass Prop 204.

Parents of preschool children of every economic level must be able to work, confident that their children are receiving high-quality care and education. For just a half penny sales tax, parents will be able to work and contribute to our tax base with the money they earn. Preschool children will get the education that they need to be ready to succeed in public school; generations of our community's families will thrive.^[3]

The Southern Arizona Association for the Education of Young Children (SAZAEYC) is committed to providing high quality, developmentally appropriate learning for all young children in our community. SAZAEYC is comprised of hundreds of early childhood professionals, including teachers, parents, preschool administrators and community leaders. Our vision statement is as follows: "All young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential." We firmly believe that providing all children with high quality early learning experiences will benefit our city socially, culturally, and economically.^[3]

For $3 or less per month, we can make sure every kid in Tucson has a fair chance at success. Strong Start would offer preschool to thousands of three-year-olds and four-year-olds who otherwise wouldn't get that care. All parents want to give their children the opportunity to thrive. Not all parents can afford to pay for preschool. And it is preschool that is proven to make the difference for little ones. Imagine every kid and teacher in Tucson, entering the kindergarten classroom surrounded by children who have had the help needed to prepare for school. Imagine our city with far fewer school drop outs and kids in trouble, and far more staying in school and getting ready to join the workforce. We'd all be better off. Tucson doesn't charge sales tax on rent, food or medicine, so families with less money end up paying less than those who have extra to spend. And much of our sales taxes are collected from out-of-town shoppers. Every dime will be accounted for because citizens will be appointed to watch over the program, every step of the way.

Vote yes on Proposition 204, and give every child in Tucson an equal chance at a better life. Thank you.^[3]

It's a great day in Tucson when we can make a difference in thousands of children's lives. Proposition 204 gives us the opportunity to make this difference! Collectively, we have been advocates for children and education for more than 80 years. And, we know a few things about what works in education.

High quality preschool education for all children is available and affordable in most advanced countries, but the USA ranks 26th in preschool participation (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). Many cities (Tulsa, Denver, Dayton, Cincinnati, and many more) have recognized this problem and have passed preschool initiatives. The research is clear. Children who attend high quality preschool are more prepared for kindergarten, require less remediation, have better health outcomes, and are more likely to graduate high school (Nobel prize-winner James Heckman).

We support Proposition 204 because we believe this is the best investment a city can make, period. For our children to succeed and our economy to thrive into the future, we need to invest in that future. Right now only one in five children attend high quality preschool in Tucson. We know that quality costs and many families just can't afford to pay the full cost. The beauty of Proposition 204 is that all families are eligible to get help and will pay for preschool based on a sliding scale. This increases the number of children who will benefit-as many as 8,000 per year! Together we can put Tucson on the map. We can make high quality preschool available to thousands of children. Vote "yes" on Proposition 204.^[3]

Children who go to high-quality preschool better in school, complete more years of education, and become productive members of a more educated workforce. There are 14,000 three and four-year olds in Tucson. Currently, only 1 6% of them attend high-quality early education. Strong Start Tucson will change this! With the support of voters in November 2017, Strong Start Tucson will create a meaningful and sustainable funding source to allow up to 8,000 more children to attend a high-quality preschool program.

• Universal Access- Will be voluntary and open for children who have not entered Kindergarten. Priority is given to 3 and 4 year old children. Scholarships are based on income and family size.

• Parental Choice -Parents choose high-quality providers based on what makes sense for their family.

• Provider Participation- Only high-quality early childhood education programs/preschools are eligible to be providers. Programs receive quality improvement assistant

• Oversight and Accountability – A Board of Commissioners will develop and enforce rules and report to the public on program results. A qualified nonprofit agency will be selected to administer the program. Paid for by Strong Start Tucson. The benefits of high-quality pre-school are real. For every dollar invested in quality early child hood education for disadvantaged children provides taxpayers with 13% return on investment per year through better outcomes in education, health, reduced social spending and productivity in the workforce. It is an investment in the social and financial wellbeing of our community. For far too many families, high quality pre-school programs are out of reach. All kids deserve this benefit. Vote yes!^[3]

Access to high-quality preschool is the key that opens the door to educational opportunity and success. Make Way for Books is an early childhood literacy nonprofit that works to ensure children are given the chance to read and succeed. We have impacted thousands of children in our community by providing early literacy programs. We've seen firsthand the impact of high-quality preschool on children's ability to become successful learners and readers.

Ninety percent of brain development happens in the first five years of a child's life. The preschool years are the most critical window for laying the foundation for academic success. Children who participate in high-quality preschool perform better throughout school and complete more education. In fact, they are three times more likely to go to college and four times more likely to earn a higher wage. Investing in preschool is proven to cut crime and save millions of taxpayer dollars down the road by drastically reducing funds to pay for prisoner incarceration. When more children are given the chance to attend preschool, we get a more educated and thriving community as a whole.

However, currently, only one in five children has the opportunity to attend high-quality preschool in Tucson. We must increase access for more children. Strong Start is the solution to achieve this dire need. It will allow ALL families the chance to obtain scholarships on a sliding scale and ensure that thousands of more children are given access to high-quality learning environments.

Together, we can help every child reach his/her full potential. Please join us. Vote YES on Proposition 204.^[3]

The time is now! As a native Tucsonan and University of Arizona graduate, I began teaching first grade at Howell Elementary in Tucson. No public kindergartens and pre-schools existed. I struggled to develop language skills and children’s abilities to cooperate. I could see real differences in the children who had attended private preschool.

As principal of Erickson Elementary, I learned that poverty made early education critical. I was greatly influenced by Jo Musser, an early childhood leader who taught me that “play is a child’s work” Dr. Marie Hughes, Professor, University of Arizona, College of Education shared her research showing that young children can attain greater cognitive development through deliberate language and problem-solving instruction.

As Assistant Superintendent at Sunnyside School District, we implemented All-Day Kindergarten funded by an override. As a school board member, I realized poverty, mobility and lack of English proficiently were barriers to achievement. I watched the success of Cecilia Avalos' PACE Parent and Child Education in TUSD, a preschool program with parent involvement and was proud when two PACE sites were opened at Mary Belle Mccorkle Academy of Excellence.

With Prop 204, existing high quality pre-schools centers will be expanded. Approximately 14,000 three and four year olds are in Tucson, but only about 4,700 attend high quality preschools. The need is great. An independent commission appointed by the mayor and city council will have oversight and ensure accountability. A non-profit organization will be selected to enroll families and fund eligible preschools.

Voting "yes" is an investment in Tucson's economic future and the quality of education. I have been waiting 62 years for high quality preschools to flourish. The time is now! Vote "yes" on Prop 204.^[3]

As pediatricians, we know about the importance of early childhood education on children's academic achievement and health. Early brain and child development research demonstrates that high quality early childhood education confirms lasting positive effects such as greater school success, higher graduation rates, lower juvenile crime and other benefits. Children attending these programs have better math and language skills, interpersonal relationships and improved behavior. We see in our work every day the impact that this has on a child's wellbeing.

We support Strong Start Tucson because it will provide many more children in the Tucson area with the high quality programs that have been found to be so effective. Let's give our children the best start in life we can provide by voting YES.^[3]

A community with high literacy levels is a community with high educational attainment, high employment rates, low crime rates and a high tax base. Tucson aspires to be such a community, but we have a long, long way to go. Literacy Connects supports Strong Start Tucson because it provides a cost-effective way to move toward that vision. All experts agree that high quality preschool is the best way to assure that all children have the best chance of reaching their full potential. We know that children who attend high quality preschools are 70% more likely to graduate from high school than those who do not. At Literacy Connects, we support literacy improvement for people of all ages, but we know that obtaining high literacy skill early in life means the need for such work in adulthood vanishes. Literacy Connects encourages the residents of Tucson to invest in the future strength of our community by voting “YES” for Strong Start Tucson.^[3]

I have three grandchildren. I buy them books, so do their parents. Their parents have been reading to them since they were infants; their preschools have been doing the same. We have known for a long time that access to books (and access to adults who read the books to and with young children) makes a difference that can last a lifetime. Access to high quality preschool provides access to books, to numbers and mathematics, to concrete and more abstract concepts. High quality preschool provides a setting in which children learn from the actions of others, learn through play, and learn from dedicated, caring teachers. Strong Start Tucson will ensure that our community's most precious resource - our children-are protected, nurtured and well-educated in a clean, safe and vibrant setting. As a grandmother, a teacher educator who has worked with talented young and not so young adults who have a passion for working with young children, and as a literacy educator I urge everyone to come together and embrace a low-cost option for providing all of our young citizens with the support they need to succeed in school and in life.^[3]

Dear City of Tucson, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our concern for the young children of our community. As you know children need a strong and positive foundation at a young age to learn the skills that will help them be successful.

These skills learned in the earliest years will help them when they enter the school setting and help them become responsible citizens. Early on experiences can affect a child positive or negative, therefore, EARLY CHILDHOOD MATTERS! Many early childhood teachers build their teaching philosophies on theorists such as Vygotsky, Piaget, Montessori, Freud, Erikson, Bowlby and many more. Their many years of study and research prove that children benefit immensely from early on positive experiences, interactions with peers and adults and gain skills in an environment that allows them to explore and make sense of their world.

Studies have shown that investing in Early Childhood Education returns a huge benefit to society. The return on investment is greater than many other economic development options. High quality preschool children succeed in school, lower special education costs, reduced crime and limit a family's need for government assistance.

Tucson's Early Childhood providers are making a call to action to ensure all young children in our community to have the opportunity to attend high-quality preschool and learn the skills needed to be successful. The time is NOW that we provide for the youngest of our citizens the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential. The time is NOW to make a difference. Today's children are our tomorrow’s future. We support Strong Start Tucson!^[3]

As a parent, grandparent and retired educator, I encourage Tucson voters to support Proposition 204, Smart Start Tucson.

Throughout my 30-year career as a public educator, I experienced firsthand the difference high quality early education makes in a child's life. For many children, their first encounter with high quality educational experiences was when they entered kindergarten.

For these children it was playing "catch up" from day one. Current research shows that the first 5 years of a child's life sets the course for the remainder of their life; children who have access to high quality educational experiences are less likely to struggle in school or require expensive special education services, they are more likely to graduate high school, less likely to end up in the criminal justice system, and more likely to be productive citizens for life. Unfortunately, high quality early education and child care is costly and many families can't afford it. Almost 30% of Tucson children ages 1-5 live in poverty. Average annual costs for child care in Tucson range from $10,140 for an infant to $6,500 for a 3-5-year-old putting it out of reach for many Tucson families. This impacts a family's ability to seek employment or worse yet, place their child in a care situation that is of low quality and may be unsafe. High quality education homes and centers require higher educational standards for teachers and caregivers as well as strong age-appropriate learning standards for children both which have been identified as critical elements for positively impacting the educational trajectory of children. I strongly urge you to support the children who will be the future of our city with this average investment of $36 per year.^[3]

Southern Arizona Grandparent Ambassadors is an informal network of grandparents who are raising grandchildren and other kinship families. Our motto: "As grandparents and relatives, we seek to keep our families together, in so doing we hope to assure that the children we are raising enjoy a healthy, basic quality of life." We educate ourselves and others about the needs of our children. We seek training in ways we can advocate on their behalf. We support Strong Start Tucson because we understand how crucial early childhood education is to the development of young children. It is especially true for the children being raised by their grandparents. Grandparents have stepped in to care for our grandchildren because they were experiencing neglect or abuse or because of other conditions that prevented their parents from doing their job. Quality preschool helps these children develop social skills and self-confidence. It helps us, the grandparents, to have respite so we have energy for the rest of our day. Many of us cannot afford quality preschool programs on our limited budgets, so the scholarships provided by Strong Start Tucson would be a godsend for kinship families. We believe that an investment in young children pays off with greater success in school once the children enter kindergarten and beyond. We appreciate the willingness of the voters of Tucson to consider this small tax increase that could have a significant effect on the community. Please vote yes.^[3]

We now know that quality child care and preschool are key to lifelong educational success. Investing public resources in providing high-quality early childhood experiences in the precious first years has been shown to have the greatest impact on a child's ability to learn and succeed later in adult life.

Nobel Prize-winning economist James Heckman researched the benefit and concluded that every $1 dollar invested in early childhood generated a return of $16. Children with early opportunities were more prepared to enter Kindergarten, continued to perform better through-out the K-12 school years, and were more likely to attend college.

Today, too many children throughout Arizona lack these opportunities.

What is the solution? A new revenue source for high-quality early childhood education is our best opportunity to solve a very real crisis for thousands of families in our community. This November, Tucsonan's have the chance to vote YES on Proposition 204 to make a difference for our neighbors, for our city, and for our economic future.^[3]

The Pima County Republican Party urges Tucson citizens to cast their votes against Prop 204.

For years, studies have shown Tucson suffers a poorly educated workforce. In addition to being badly written, Proposition 204 misguidedly aims to fix this problem by using additional tax dollars raised through a new half cent sales tax to be specifically applied to "high-quality early-childhood education" for children not yet eligible for kindergarten.

To implement such a program, a special Commission would be created, not a School District. The Arizona Constitution provides that School Districts shall educate students living in their jurisdiction. Those Districts governing boards create programs for students and distribute the funds for these programs, which are collected from school taxes included in property taxes. The City of Tucson is tasked with providing for public safety, public health and parks. Nowhere in the City Charter is there direction to or empowerment of Tucson to educate pre kindergarten age children, nor to collect money to pay for such programs. It has not been, nor should it become, the business of the City to decide which preschool or family shall receive funding, especially through a citywide commission appointed by the City Council. Such power is currently vested in elected School Boards. An appointed Commission would be rife with the opportunity for corruption and prejudice. Once again, a government solution is being sought to remedy a perceived deficiency.

Moreover, Proposition 204 is written without a "sunset" clause. The half cent increase in City sales taxes would continue in perpetuity. This alone is reason to reject Prop 204.

VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 204!^[3]

Early childhood education and quality care is important for children and their parents. However, as a Tucson community, we need a comprehensive approach to a quality education for all school grades, pre-school through high school. The mission of Strong Start Tucson to provide quality pre-school education is very important, but there are concerns and questions to consider:

1. FAMILIES & PRESCHOOL CHILDCARE CENTERS -The 1/2 cent sales tax increase will fall primarily on low-income families, but not all will benefit. Providers must have a 3-Star Quality First Rating, but many do not because of an over two year waiting list for assessment by the state agency;

2. NEEDS IN KINDERGARTEN TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADES - K-12 students and teachers are in dire need of better facilities, equipment, technology and basic school supplies. Also, we have a shortage of qualified teachers. The proposed permanent 1/2 cent sales tax will generate approximately $50 million dollars each year indefinitely. This is revenue that could benefit all levels of education in Tucson;

3. OTHER CONCERNS INCLUDE: A. How will this tax increase benefit equally all city wards? B. What are the accountability measures for allocation of the tax money? C. How will this permanent sales tax impact the sunset of Proposition 301 which currently supports public education? Would passage undermine extension of this tax revenue that schools rely on now? D. Effect upon the City's bond rating? E. How will this interfere with the Flowing Wells, Sunnyside, and Tucson Unified School Districts' bond overrides? and F. How will this affect the funding for all public schools in Tucson? There are too many concerns and unanswered questions. Careful consideration of these issues is needed before making the decision to vote for a Strong Start 1/2 permanent sales tax.^[3]

The Tucson Metro Chamber has long been a strong supporter of education and increased education funding. However, in the November election, the Chamber recommends a NO vote on Prop 204, the Strong Start Tucson High-Quality Early-Childhood Financial Aid Program.

Prop 204 is a proposal to authorize and implement an additional half-cent (0.5%) sales tax to fund early childhood education for children within the City of Tucson who are not yet eligible for kindergarten.

Our issue is not with the intent of Prop 204, which we regard to be noble. The Tucson Metro Chamber remains committed to supporting education from early childhood through the university level for all Arizona students. However, we believe that a permanent transaction privilege tax (sales tax) is not the appropriate solution. Our recommendation might have been different if the proposed tax had a sunset date that would allow Mayor and Council- along with other invested parties -- to assess the success of the program and explore further options if needed. The Chamber also feels that Prop 204 deflects the obligation for funding education away from the state legislature, the body responsible for providing adequate funding for early childhood education. The Chamber will carry on its pro-education advocacy with the legislature.

The Tucson Metro Chamber encourages you to vote NO on Proposition 204 this November so that we may hold the state accountable and prevent an additional sales tax from being imposed on Tucson residents.^[3]

Proposition 204 seems like a nice idea. But voters should take a closer look.

It would amend Tucson's City Charter to increase the city sales tax by a half-cent, the same amount voters approved in May for roads and public safety improvements. But unlike that tax, which expires in five years, Proposition 204's tax would be permanent.

Proceeds would amount to around $50 million per year. An appointed commission would choose a nonprofit to distribute these funds, but the initiative sets almost no rules about how this would work, how families would qualify, or how preschool providers would qualify.

We also don't know what kind of nonprofit would be chosen to distribute these funds. The initiative does not require any qualifying criteria at all.

It does, however, allow for two appointed commissioners to be early childhood education providers. Because early childhood education providers would be able to receive funds under the initiative, this may invite conflicts of interest. Additionally, the initiative allows a generous eight percent to be used for "administrative expenses." That works out to some $4 million per year.

What kind of administration are they anticipating they'll need with all that money? As a point of comparison, Tucson's mayor and Council had a budget of just under $2.4 million for the fiscal period that just ended. That includes the operating expenses of the mayor's office and the six ward offices, including the salaries of 42 people.

Finally, the initiative contains no reporting requirements. Much of the data will be in the hands of a nonprofit, beyond the reach of public records laws. How would we monitor what's being done with taxpayers' $50 million a year? There are just too many questions to make this tax permanent. Vote no.^[3]