Will Arizona's college students march in streets?

Tens of thousands of public college students in Great Britain took to the streets this week to express their anger about huge increases in tuition fees there as part of attempts to control government spending. Funding is being cut from universities and tuition fees are tripling there to help reduce the national debt.

Will Arizona's college students be doing the same thing in the near future?

Probably not, but just like in Britain it appears Arizona college students are likely to be bearing a bigger part of the state government's efforts to balance its budget.

When voters rejected two measures on the ballot designed to help cover the costs of operating state government, it left lawmakers with little choice but to look at state programs again and try to find areas where the can cut spending to balance the state budget, as required by law.

Almost immediately identified as an area for scrutiny by legislative leaders was the state's education system, especially higher education at the public universities and probably at the community colleges.

Cuts are also likely to come in the kindergarten through high school programs, but that would probably be more unpopular than higher education, where the cost of operating the colleges can be shifted to students paying tuition — or at least that is the thinking of some state lawmakers.

Frankly, neither makes much sense. Public schools at all levels in Arizona have already taken big hits during past budget cutting by the state. Taking even more from them is foolhardy.

Providing a good education to the young people in our state is critical to the future of Arizona. It is also critical to the economic growth of our state because one of the first things businesses wanting to relocate to Arizona or continue to operate here will look at is the quality of education opportunities.

Having a skilled and highly educated workforce is essential to our state, especially if it wants to attract businesses that offer higher paying jobs.

The idea of increasing college tuition may sound attractive, but it will be counterproductive. Fewer young people will be able to attend college and that means the goal of a highly educated workforce will be more difficult to achieve.

Two state lawmakers are offering a better place to target for cuts — the criminal system, specifically prisons, which take a large segment of the state budget.

Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-Safford, and Rep. Cecil Ash, R-Mesa, think we need to change the state's tough sentencing laws so fewer people end up in prison.

The state's prison population has outgrown the state's percentage of population growth by five times since the tough sentencing laws took effect in the early 1990's to address “law and order” concerns. Some 11 percent of the state budget is spent to incarcerate inmates and the rate keeps growing.

There are less costly sentencing alternatives that punish those who commit crimes without putting them in a prison cell or at least keeps them there for a shorter time.

Save money there, not by cutting education.

But is there the political will to do this? Konopnicki points out that many lawmakers are fearful of being labeled “soft on crime” and that has prevented changes in the sentencing laws. Can they summon the courage to take that risk now?

I hope so.

Terry Ross is director of the Yuma Sun's News and Information Center. E-mail him at tross@yumasun.com or phone him at 539-6870.