Education, business and political leaders stood together Wednesday in endorsing three ballot measures they say will help create and finance a "seamless" education system in Utah.
Leading the public show of support were Gov. Mike Leavitt, a Republican, and his Democratic challenger, Jim Bradley, who agreed they don't agree very often."But on the need to support education, we strongly agree. It's the real and right thing to do," Bradley said, borrowing one of Leavitt's 1992 campaign slogans.
Leavitt echoed the sentiment, saying all three measures are "pro-education" and non-partisan. The propositions would give budgetmakers more options without jeopardizing education funding, he said. They would also save taxpayers' money and help develop a unified system of education that includes both public and higher education, he said.
Proposition 4 would allow Utah's 40 local school districts to use the state's AAA bond rating when borrowing money. The higher rating would mean lower interest rates, with proponents estimating savings of up to $13 million over the next five years.
Proposition 5 would expand the revenue sources for the State School Fund by allowing donations from individuals, businesses and industry. Interest earned on the fund would be used to support public education.
Proposition 6 would remove a constitutional ambiguity over whether income tax revenues can be used for the state's nine colleges and universities as well as the public school system.
The latter is the most controversial of the three propositions, with opponents saying it might erode the funding base of public education. In an analysis done for the official voter information pamphlet, Sen. Joseph Hull, D-Hooper, and Rep. Kurt Oscarson, D-Sandy, also said it might lead to increased competition between higher and public education for the limited tax resources.
Worried that those fears might be spreading among voters, especially public school teachers, supporters of the three propositions gathered their "big guns" together for a press conference.
Among them was House Speaker Mel Brown, R-Midvale, who said Proposition 6 has been subject to "some misinformation." He insisted it would increase rather than diminish the financial support for education.
"It merely expands the definition of public education to allow the governor and the Legislature to address the needs of education," Brown said, adding that most lawmakers "strongly support" the measure.
Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell, D-Sandy, said the propositions will "change the face of education in Utah" in a positive way.
Utah Education Association President Phyllis Sorensen acknowledged that some teachers are worried about the funding change, but she assured them "education will not suffer."
One reason for her confidence, she said, is that lawmakers have also passed a bill giving public education "first draw" on the state's rainy-day fund if economic conditions take a downturn that effects education funding.
Dale Zabriskie, a member of the state Board of Regents, said his board and the boards of trustees of all nine institutions of higher education have also backed the propositions.
Like the governor, Zabriskie said it is important for the state to develop a seamless education system that recognizes that public education merges with higher education at many levels.
Also endorsing the propositions were representatives of the PTA, State Board of Education, Utah Taxpayers Association and dozens of other organizations.