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Emily Gersema

0-Related Reforms
AZ Commerce Cronies: Picking and Choosing Winners With Your Tax Dollars

Most government departments and agencies have a governing board, council or commission that discusses and makes major spending decisions in public meetings. However, the state laws that govern the ACA allow the board of directors, its committees, subcommittees and advisory councils to discuss business opportunities in executive session. The chief executive officer, who does not have to hold public meetings to discuss or vote on which businesses the agency will aid, has unilateral authority to award subsidies.

0-Related Reforms
Phoenix’s bid rules for contracts called ripe for abuse

Phoenix has no uniform set of procedures and policies for outside contracting and the guidelines it has relied on have been kept from both public view and City Council oversight, a situation that critics say could lead to unfairly awarded contracts and the waste of taxpayer dollars.

Charter Schools
Gaming the System: Districts Make a Dash for Cash in Charter Schools

Legislators and charter school advocates worry the sudden rise in district-run charters is a money grab by the traditional public districts. Several of the districts are increasing their budgets with “additional assistance” funds for charter schools without fulfilling the state’s primary purpose for charter schools – to increase educational options for students. Public districts receive on average $8,992 per student from the state, which is $1,532 more per student than typical charter schools, according to a comparison the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee released in September. This is largely because public districts receive state funding for transportation and capital funds, while charter schools do not.

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