Education Stimulus Arrives

The U.S. Department of Education last week released $681 million in federal stimulus funds that will allow Arizona to restore some cuts made to higher education in fiscal 2009 and boost its education budget for fiscal 2010.

The state may also apply for another $335 million in education stimulus funds before the end of 2009.

Gov. Jan Brewer said the federal dollars will help soften the impact of declining state revenues. She warned legislators to avoid cuts to the education budget, which she said could reduce the state's eligibility for federal funds.

"While these funds obviously do not close the state budget-deficit hole of $4 billion, they are an important tool in my mission to protect K-12, university, and community college systems from crippling budget cuts," Brewer said. "I will not accept a new state budget that threatens the loss of these federal stimulus dollars."

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