ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
community college
funding; study committee
Establishes a joint legislative study committee to address community college funding.
There are ten community college districts and one provisional community college district in Arizona and each is governed by a locally elected community college district governing board. All counties in the State have a community college district within the county boundaries, except for Apache, Gila and Greenlee counties.
The major sources of funding to operate community colleges are the primary property tax levy, formula-based state aid, equalization aid, tuition and fees, bonds and other forms of indebtedness and cash balances. The amount of funds expended by community colleges is limited pursuant to the Arizona Constitution. Limitations are based upon expenditure levels in 1979-1980, and are adjusted by enrollment growth and inflation. Currently, each community college or community college district submits a budget request to the State Board of Directors for Community Colleges (Board) and then the Board compiles a budget on behalf of all community colleges for consideration by the Legislature.
This legislation addresses funding issues associated with the community college system. H.B. 2333 establishes a joint legislative study committee (Committee) to address funding issues relating to community colleges, and specifically directs the Committee to review operation costs, current state funding, other states’ funding and articulation.
There is no discernible fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this bill.
1. Establishes a 14-member joint legislative study committee (Committee) to address community college funding.
2. Requires the Committee to study the following issues: (a) the operating costs of community colleges, (b) the adequacy of current funding supporting community colleges in Arizona, (c) the funding arrangements supporting community colleges in other states, and (d) articulation issues.
3. Requires the Committee to submit a report of findings and recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature by December 31, 2001.
4. Allows the Committee to use staff services of the State Board of Directors for Community Colleges, the Arizona Community Colleges Association and community college districts.
5. Provides for a general effective date.
RGO 3/19/01 DPA/SE 7-0-0-3
Approp 3/13/01 DPA/SE 12-0-1-3
3rd Read 3/19/01 47-9-4-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 23, 2001