Gov. Napolitano pushes for another $1.4 billion in school bonding

In addition to K-12 bonding for new school construction, Gov. Napolitano wants even more bonding.

Dear Friends:

Arizona has a great future, and, as you know, I believe education is key to our state's long-term success and economic prosperity.

Now, there's a way for you to demonstrate your support by signing an online petition at http://www.azgovernor.gov/SPEED_Petition.asp, urging the Legislature to put into effect a proposal that will build up our state university system and prepare it for the future.

That proposal is called SPEED, or the Stimulus Plan for Economic and Educational Development. SPEED is a $1.4 billion long-term capital finance plan to improve and expand facilities at Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona.

It combines short-term relief, while at the same time, carrying us toward our long-term goals. For the short term, by allowing the Universities to begin construction on desperately-needed facilities, this plan will create more than 30,000 new jobs, including 14,000 jobs in the construction industry. It will also give our state's economy a "shot in the arm."

For the long-term, SPEED will complete critical university campus renovations that were planned years ago. It will build new facilities to accommodate the many young people growing up in Arizona today who will need a higher education in the competitive future economy. SPEED will also make critical research investments that will foster high-tech industries in Arizona.

In my State of the State address this year, I challenged our higher education institutions to double the number of bachelor's degrees they produce by the year 2020. With the help of the SPEED plan, we can reach that goal.

Please show your support for a better higher education system that will lead to more college graduates and a stronger economy by signing the petition here http://www.azgovernor.gov/SPEED_Petition.asp and by asking your friends to do the same.

Thank you for your support for education in Arizona. If you have any questions, you can contact my office at (602) 542-1318, or visit my Web site at www.azgovernor.gov for information and news in Arizona government.

Yours very truly,

Janet Napolitano

Governor