Horne blasts Hobbs’ veto of bill allowing public view of district leaders’ pay

Legislation aimed to reveal costs to taxpayers

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne says the governor’s veto of a bi-partisan bill to allow the public to see the salaries of district superintendents and other executive staff is outrageous and a slap against accountability for tax dollars.

Horne said, “The governor’s veto is outrageous and makes no sense. We have a lot of great superintendents, but as an example there is one who makes $400,000 plus benefits and is allowed to run side businesses. Taxpayers have the right to know that. District superintendents, their various assistants and chief financial officers should be accountable to the taxpayers who pay their salaries. The problem right now is that some districts make it difficult or impossible for the public to know how much those public employees are getting paid. H.B. 2075 would have easily fixed that problem. This had support of both Republicans and Democrats, but the governor used her veto pen to make sure taxpayers are kept in the dark.”

He added, “The vast majority of district superintendents and many other executive staff make six-figure salaries because the size and scope of their job is very large. But it is reasonable for the public to know exactly what those salaries are and whether they are appropriate or potentially excessive. The governor’s veto is both disappointing and wrong.”