Protests, letters, calls, lawsuits, and frustrated community members.

Those are the results of last January's cuts to vital services like child care, education, and disability services. Community members overwhelmingly spoke out against the last budget cuts, because of their intolerable impacts on our families.

Carie's Story on How Cuts Impact Her Son

The last budget passed by the legsilature was devastating to the families that depend on vital services to recover from difficult economic circumstances. Arizona needs job training, high quality education, and assistance for children to to leave a legacy for future generations we can be proud of.

So far, "leaders" in the Legislature have failed that promise.

The impacts of the last budget, by the numbers:

- 7,400 teachers and school employees laid off
- 8 lawsuits filed in response to budget cuts
- $26 million gone for child care
- 27,865 people furloughed
- $2,000,000 reduction for domestic violence shelters
- 1,344 state employees laid off
- $636,500 reduction for Community Action Programs, impacting 1,000 families
- 1,100 children with disabilities denied servcies from Children's Rehabilitative Services

(Sources: Arizona Education Association, Arizona Republic, Children's Action Alliance, National Public Radio)

 

"1,000 Arizona Students Protest Budget Cuts", Arizona Republic
"Disability Group Sues Over Arizona Budget Cuts", KGUN 9
Putting a Face on Arizona's Budget Cuts", KOLD 13
"Tucson Lawmaker Says CPS Cuts Could Result in 'Dead Kids'", ABC 15
"GOP Budget Proposal Slashes Funds for Education", Arizona Republic
"Students Protest Arizona Education Cuts", National Public Radio
"Water Conservation Efforts Seek to Cope With State Cuts, TriValleyCentral.com
"House Dems Say GOP Cuts Crimp State's Ability to Fight Swine Flu, Arizona Captiol Times
"Arizona Governor Urged to Recreate State Health Crisis Fund", ABC 15
"All-Day Kindergarten is on the State Budget Choping Block", azfamily.com
"Teachers Forced Into Tense Waiting Game", East Valley Tribune

 

Now a coalition of community members is taking action to make sure we have a budget that doesn't repeat these mistakes. Click here to find out more about the Arizona Budget Coalition, and here to learn about our alternative budget.