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Many Arizona governmental agencies are beginning to plan for radical population growth as the state population increases by 3 percent or more each year. The need to do so is clear. By the year 2030 Arizona's population will nearly double.

Arizona's metropolitan areas will continue growing, ultimately leading to a merger of Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas. By 2050 the highway corridors leading from Tucson to the Prescott area will be fully developed into one merged megalopolis.

A Statewide Transportation Planning Committee is developing projections for costs related to roads and transportation. Arizona's Government Information Technology Agency is sketching out future technological needs.

This prompts an important question: Will Arizona be ready to meet the needs of its growing student population 20 years from today?

Projections for population growth in Arizona indicate that the state's population is not only growing but it's getting younger. Arizona's student population is growing more rapidly than that of its adult population.

Arizona's current student population is approximately 1 million. Projections demonstrate an increase to more than 2.5 million students by 2030.

This statistic alone requires a thoughtful response from state government.

Arizona will build hundreds of new schools and hire thousands of teachers to fill new classrooms. Just as transportation and technology will require capacity increases, school buildings will require equipment, technology and support staff to maintain the new facilities, transport students and serve meals.

However, no aspect of Arizona's infrastructure will be ready to embrace our growth without an appropriate investment , and that is only possible if revenue is available.

This inevitable reality focuses a spotlight on the inequity of Arizona's system of revenue generation. The glaring reality is that Arizona is ill-equipped to meet the needs of its growing student population.

Arizona is far too dependent on sales tax. In slow economic times, people stop spending money much faster than they stop earning it.

This scenario sets Arizona expenditures on a collision course with its revenue — evidenced by the current $1 billion deficit and roughly $2 billion dollar deficit projected for 2009.

Property and income tax assessments are the pathway to a more stable system of taxation that produces consistent revenue. To invest in the future, Arizona should transition to a more forward-thinking tax structure.

But today's legislative leadership is compromising Arizona's future.

In 2006 Arizona's legislature caused a three-year, $1.5 billion loss in investments based on unrealistic economic assumptions. Sold to taxpayers as a tax cut, the move represented a severe lack of foresight.

Long-range planning and investment can alleviate pressures on Arizona's school districts.

While urban centers such as Tucson Unified School District face declining enrollment and school closures, enrollment increases in districts such as Sunnyside and Vail demand new schools, more teachers, staff and instructional materials.

What is the legislature's answer to Arizona's certain growth? Freeze new school construction. This appalling lack of vision will result in a peculiar message to the thousands of families moving into Arizona: School is closed.

Arizona has accepted the need to invest in infrastructural designs for transportation, utilities and technology. Why, then, should we accept legislation by denial as a substitute for similar investments in education?

In 2030, just 22 years away, there will likely be 1.5 million more students for Arizona to serve. Arizona is mapping out every road and every utility pole necessary for our future. Arizona's children deserve the same forethought.

Planning for our future begins with education.