More than 1,000 signatures were recently collected for a letter of support asking the Arizona Legislature to secure stable funding for Arizona’s Early Childhood Development and Health Board, also known as First Things First.
The FTF Government Affairs team delivered the letter to the 90 legislators at the Arizona Legislature last month.
“This strong, public statement comes from communities across the state,” said FTF Senior Director of Government Affairs Joe Barba.
The letter of support included signatures from individuals, local governments, tribal nations, various elected officials and business owners.
“Those signatures speak to the awareness that early childhood education programs and access to quality child care for working families are central to a healthy Arizona economy, as well as continued family stability,” Barba said.
Economic development support
The letter also included support from the following chambers of commerce and economic development associations:
- Arizona Association for Economic Development
- Black Chamber of Arizona
- Buckeye Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Office
- The Chamber of Southern Arizona
- Chandler Chamber of Commerce
- Graham County Chamber of Commerce
- Greater Phoenix Leadership
- The Greater Yuma Economic Development Corporation, Childcare Crisis Task Force
- Lake Havasu Area Chamber of Commerce
- Nogales-Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce
- Page Chamber of Commerce
- Prescott Chamber of Commerce
- Rim Country Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce
- Springerville-Eagar Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Superior Chamber of Commerce
The request comes as FTF, which is Arizona’s early childhood agency, faces a plummeting revenue source. Tobacco tax revenues, FTF’s sole dedicated funding source, have decreased by 47% since 2008, resulting in a reduction of annual resources by more than $76 million. Without action, critical services for children and working families will continue to erode.
Dwindling tobacco taxes come from fewer people smoking, but also from consumers turning to vaping and nicotine products, which are not included in the tobacco tax.
Most recently, House Bill 4032 was introduced, which would have modernized the tax code by closing the nicotine and vaping loophole. It did not move forward this legislative session.
Still, the work continues.
“We will keep working with policymakers on the need for sustainable funding for early childhood programs and services,” Barba said.
