Huckabee Defends Price Of Education Reform
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Governor Huckabee is chafing at questions
about how much his education reform plan will cost.
And state Education Director Ray Simon continues to maintain the
plan will eventually cost more than the 368 million dollars a
year advertised, but probably NOT as much as education consultants
recommended spending.
Simon says the plan`s price tag will NOT reach 847 million
dollars, but could cost close to 800 million a year once
teacher pay is increased and new programs are added in coming
years.
Huckabee has said a one-cent sales tax would cover the cost of
his plan. But neither he nor Simon could say today how much more
the proposal would cost after the first year.
Huckabee says there is no way to know since it depends on
variables like how many teachers will qualify for additional pay.
Posted by Mike Hellgren
