Whether you were for or against Proposition 123, it’s likely we can all agree that it is at least a relief to see action being taken swiftly and by the book concerning providing funding to Arizona schools.

Back in May, Arizona voters approved Prop 123 which, over the course of 10 years, is expected to provide $3.5 billion for statewide education needs.

Last week, Arizona’s Board of Investment gave the green light to start writing the first checks to schools, which translates into a hefty chunk of change being added to the 2015-16 budget. Restrictions on carry forward were loosened due to this last-minute shot in the arm so, while this first batch of Prop 123 funding will appear on the 2015-16 budget for schools, it can then be utilized in the 2016-17 academic year.

In short, Proposition 123 increases the amount of funds local schools receive from the Arizona land trust fund. These funds will be paid out on a monthly basis moving forward but, due to the timing of the election, schools are receiving a year’s worth of Prop 123 funding in one lump sum. All told, that equals about $190 from the trust fund for this first payment.

Prop 123 functions by increasing the base support level a district receives per student. That figure is a big determining factor for a district’s budget and, in turn, helps determine salaries and benefits. In other words, pay for Arizona teachers should see a direct impact due to Prop 123.

Locally, Fountain Hills Unified School District’s share of Prop 123 money weighs in at about $338,000. Hopefully that will give the district some nice breathing room in the coming academic year and the ability provide more compensation to local teachers for the great work that they do.