Arizona’s 10 neighborhood school districts obtained greater than $31 million from cannabis-derived taxes collected final yr, the Associated Press stories. The state’s legalization regulation created a 16% excise tax on gross sales, of which about one-third is earmarked for Arizona neighborhood schools.
Schools can use the funds for workforce growth, STEM, and sure different teaching programs.
The funding is about equal to the scale of Republican Gov. Doug Ducey’s plan to make use of $30 million in federal funds towards six new workforce accelerators all through the state’s neighborhood schools.
The state’s largest neighborhood school system, Maricopa Neighborhood Schools, obtained greater than $17 million from the hashish tax fund final yr. It advised the AP it plans to make use of the funds for workforce packages and doubtlessly makes use of $5 million to assist cowl workforce-related bills or STEM on account of price range shortfalls.
Pima Neighborhood Faculty, the second-largest system, obtained $3.9 million and plans to make use of the funds for capital initiatives to increase and rework well being professions areas and science labs, spokesperson Libby Howell advised the AP.
Cochise Faculty, which obtained over $2 million final yr, is utilizing the funds to considerably increase its first responders’ academy choices, it advised the AP.
Mandy Heil, the spokesperson for Arizona Western Faculty which obtained $1.7 million, advised the AP that the faculty plans to make use of the funds towards the $35 million in income bonds it was issued to replace amenities, together with for packages in e-gaming, cybersecurity, and allied well being.
Yavapai Faculty obtained $1.4 million and spokesperson Tyler Rumsey stated the faculty plans to increase providers on the school’s Regional Financial Growth Heart, which helps foster financial growth, workforce development, and regional collaboration packages.
Central Arizona Faculty CFO Chris Wodka stated the college would use its $1.3 million towards public security program initiatives, reminiscent of enhancing the driving observe and taking pictures vary, police tools, ammunition, and different provides and that the faculty will spend the remainder on STEM and workforce growth packages.
Mohave Neighborhood Faculty obtained $1.1 million which it plans to assist fund the development of a complicated manufacturing coaching middle on the Kingman Airport Industrial Park and might also use the cash to increase profession and technical schooling and STEM packages based mostly on northwestern Arizona workforce wants, spokesperson James Jarman advised the AP.
Japanese Arizona Faculty stated it plans to make use of its $1 million from the hashish gross sales tax cash to assist construct a expertise middle for a number of workforce growth packages for in-demand, native, careers, spokesperson Kris McBride stated within the report.
Different schools obtained lower than $1 million, together with Coconino Neighborhood Faculty ($930,000), Northland Pioneer Faculty ($900,000), and the Gila and Santa Cruz county provisional neighborhood school districts ($228,000 and $112,000, respectively), which indicated they might use the funds for work growth packages.
Get every day hashish enterprise information updates. Subscribe
Sponsor message: