♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE LATEST ON CONCERNS REGARDING ARIZONANS EXPOSED TO THE HANTAVIRUS.

>>> A CLINICAL TRIAL AIMS TO CONTROL TYPE-2 DIABETES WITHOUT THE USE OF DRUGS.

>>> AND MARICOPA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGES CALLS ON THE STATE TO RESTORE FOUNDATIONAL OPERATING AID.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

A SECOND PERSON IN ARIZONA IS CONFIRMED TO HAVE BEEN A PASSENGER ABOARD A DUTCH CRUISE SHIP EXPOSED TO THE HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK, WHAT DO THE TWO CASES MEAN IN TERMS OF HANTAVIRUS EXPOSURE IN ARIZONA AND WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ARIZONANS TRAVELING THIS SUMMER?

WE WELCOME IN DR.

JEFFREY LANGLAND FROM SONORAN UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: WHAT IS HANTAVIRUS?

>> A NUMBER OF VIRUSES THAT CAN INFECT HUMANS, TYPICALLY REGARDED AS NOT A COMMON HUMAN PATHOGEN.

ALMOST HALF THE CASES ARE FROM RODENTS CARRYING THE VIRUS SPREAD INTO THE FECES OR URINE AND THAT GETS SWEPT UP, IF YOU INHALE THAT, YOU ARE EXPOSED TO IT.

TED: INCUBATION PERIOD IS HOW LONG?

>> TYPICALLY A WEEK OR SO.

RARE CASES CAN GO UP TO 40 DAYS OR SO.

TED: INTERESTING.

THERE'S NO RHYME OR REASON FOR THAT.

>> NO, JUST THE PERSON'S BODY.

TED: ALL RIGHT, SYMPTOMS, WHAT ARE THE INITIAL SYMPTOMS?

WHEN DO YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT WHAT YOU GOT?

>> UNFORTUNATELY IT'S A RESPIRATORY VIRUS, MOST SYMPTOMS ARE COMMON COLD, FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS, FEEL LIKE FEVER, HEADACHE, FATIGUE, MALAISE, IT WILL PROGRESS INTO SEVERE LUNG CONDITIONS WHERE IT GETS MORE DIFFICULT TO BREATHE.

TED: AS IT PROGRESSES, IT'S THE LUNGS THAT GET IT?

>> YES.

TYPICALLY YOU ARE GOING TO DIE FROM RESPIRATORY DISTRESS, THE VIRUS IS IN THE LUNGS, YOU CAN DEVELOP PNEUMONIA AND DIE FROM THAT CONDITION.

TED: IS THAT PROGRESSION QUICK?

>> REASONABLY.

A WEEK OR TWO AFTER YOU ARE EXPOSED.

TED: OKAY, WE HAD A HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK IN ARIZONA IN THE 1990s, AND NORTHERN AND EASTERN PARTS OF THE STATE.

IT WAS A BIG DEAL, AND PEOPLE DIED, GOT INJURED AND IT WAS NOT GOOD.

>> RIGHT.

TED: BUT HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT THE HANTAVIRUS BEFORE THAT OR AFTER THAT UNTIL NOW.

IS THIS SIMILAR TO WHAT HAPPENED IN ARIZONA THEN?

>> YES AND NO.

SO BACK IN 1993, WHEN THAT OCCURRED IN NORTHERN ARIZONA, WE HADN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT HANTAVIRUS, WE DIDN'T KNOW IT EXISTED MUCH IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT OUTBREAK WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RODENT POPULATION IN THE AREA.

MORE FECES DROPPED INTO THE AREA, SO PEOPLE GOT EXPOSED AND LED TO THE INITIAL DISCOVERY.

I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, HANTAVIRUS DIDN'T DISAPPEAR COMPLETELY AND HAVE TYPICALLY 30 TO 40 CASES A YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES.

PEOPLE EXPOSED TO RODENT POPULATIONS, CAMPSITES AND THINGS LIKE THIS WHERE RODENTS ARE RUNNING AROUND.

TED: COMPARE THAT HANTAVIRUS WITH WHAT WE HAD ON THE DUTCH CRUISE SHIP.

THEY CALL THAT THE ANDES STRAIN?

>> THERE ARE DIFFERENT STRAINS OF THE VIRUSES.

ALL THE STRAINS IN THE UNITED STATES, NO HUMAN TO HUMAN TRANSMISSION.

SO TRANSMISSION IS SOLELY BY EXPOSURE OF RODENT FECES.

THE ANDES STRAIN IS TYPICALLY FROM RODENT DROPPINGS, THAT'S HOW THE INITIAL PEOPLE ON THE CRUISE GOT EXPOSED TO IT, EXCURSION FROM THE CRUISE SHIP, GOT EXPOSED TO RODENTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, NOW THE ANDES STRAIN IS DIFFERENT FROM ALL THE OTHER STRAINS OF HANTAVIRUS WHERE, THERE CAN BE RARE HUMAN-TO-HUMAN TRANSMISSION, AND I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR, IT'S VERY, VERY CLEAR, YOU NEED PROLONGED EXPOSURE, SLEEPING WITH SOMEBODY DAY-TO-DAY, HOUR-TO-HOUR EXPOSURE, NOT LIKE COVID OR THE FLU WHERE YOU CAN WALK BY SOMEBODY WHO SNEEZES ON YOU AND YOU ARE EXPOSED, THIS IS NOT THAT SITUATION.

TED: YOU HAVE TO BE PRETTY CLOSE TO IT.

>> RIGHT.

TED: FOR THE TWO ARIZONANS ARE THESE MARICOPA COUNTY RESIDENTS?

>> I DO NOT KNOW.

TED: I THINK THEY MIGHT BE.

ONE PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO NEBRASKA FOR EVALUATION.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF PANIC WHAT TO DO WITH THE PATIENTS AND HOW BEST TO DEAL WITH THEM.

KIND OF LIKE WE'RE DEALING WITH THE EBOLA OUTBREAK, SHUTTLING PEOPLE AROUND TO WHERE THE BEST FACILITIES ARE.

TED: NEBRASKA HAS SOMETHING THEY'RE DEALING WITH IT.

IS THAT SOMETHING THEY MONITOR THE PEOPLE?

>> CORRECT.

TED: DO YOU KNOW IF THEY'VE COME BACK AT ALL?

>> THEY'RE STILL BEING MONITORED.

SHOWING NO SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS AND MORE THAN LIKELY NOT GOING TO.

TYPICAL SYMPTOMS ARE THE FIRST WEEK OR TWO.

RARELY DO THEY COME ALONG LATER.

MORE LIKELY THIS IS GOING TO BE THE END OF THE CURRENT OUTBREAK THAT EVERYBODY THAT SHOWED SYMPTOMS INITIALLY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE THE END OF THE OUTBREAK BUT WE HAVE TO QUARANTINE EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> WHEN YOU COME DOWN WITH THE SYMPTOMS AND START PROGRESSING, IS THIS A DEATH SENTENCE OR WAYS TO TREAT THIS?

>> THERE'S NOT GREAT WAYS TO TREAT IT.

PROPHYLACTIC, TRYING TO REDUCE THE -- ONCE YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM GETS OVERABUNDANT, SUPPRESSIVE DRUGS TO STORE IT IN YOUR LUNGS, IT'S NOT A DEATH SENTENCE BUT MORTALITY RATE CAN BE 30% OR SO.

TED: WOW.

>> IT'S PRETTY HIGH.

LUCKILY IT'S NOT EASILY TRANSMITTED FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, ARIZONANS TRAVELING, SOME TAKING A CRUISE SHIP, YOU NEVER KNOW, SHOULD THEY BE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS?

>> AS FAR AS HANTAVIRUS, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

THIS IS LIKELY THE END OF THE OUTBREAK, THE ONE CRUISE SHIP THAT CAME OUT OF SOUTH AMERICA, DID A SHORT EXCURSION WHERE THEY WERE EXPOSED TO THE RODENTS.

CRUISE SHIPS IN GENERAL EXPOSE SOME RISK.

WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT CRUISE SHIPS WITH NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK AND THAT WILL CONTINUE TO EXIST, NOROVIRUS IS SPREAD BY CONTACT WHERE SOMEONE COMES ON, IT'S ORALLY TRANSMITTED.

IF SOMEONE CONTAMINATES A DOOR KNOB OR SOMETHING, IT CAN BE TRANSMITTED THAT WAY.

TED: WHAT DO ARIZONANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS?

>> BE CONSCIOUS OF WHAT'S AROUND YOU, WE LIVE IN A WORLD POST COVID SO EVERYBODY IS IN THE PANIC STAGE RIGHT NOW, AND DON'T NEED DO THAT.

WE HAVE NO VIRUSES THAT ARE LIKELY BECOMING A PANDEMIC.

IT'S THE DAY-TO-DAY, WHETHER EXPOSED TO COVID, THE FLU, NOROVIRUS, MAY LEAD TO DIARRHEA.

HAVE YOU 15, 20 CRUISE SHIPS WITH OUTBREAKS OF NOROVIRUS.

IT'S PRETTY RARE.

TED: GOOD LUCK ON YOUR TRIP.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THANK YOU.

.

TED: RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS LOOKING TO BECOME THE FIRST RESEARCH FACILITY IN THE COUNTRY TO RUN A CLINICAL TRIAL THAT AIMS TO CONTROL TYPE-2 DIABETES WITHOUT THE USE OF DRUGS.

INVOLVES MINIMALLY INVASIVE ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURE TO RESTORE THE BODY'S ABILITY TO CONTROL BLOOD SUGAR.

WE WELCOME DR.

JAMES SWAIN FROM ASU'S BARIATRICS AND GI RESEARCH DIVISION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

TED: TYPE-2 DIABETES, WHAT IS IT?

>> THE INABILITY TO MOVE SUGAR FROM BLOODSTREAM INTO THE CELLS.

TYPE-1 DIABETES IS THE LACK OF INSULIN PRODUCED IN THE BODY TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

TYPE-2 DIABETES IS BECOMING INSULIN RESISTANT.

YOU HAVE THE INSULIN AND MAKE PLENTY OF IT, THE RECEPTOR FOR THE INSULIN IS SO INSENSITIVE TO IT THAT IT DOESN'T BRING THE SUGAR INTO THE CELLS SUFFICIENTLY.

TED: WHAT MAKES IT INSENSITIVE?

>> A VARIETY OF REASONS FOR THAT.

ONE IS OBESITY, TWO IS GENETICS, THREE IS ENVIRONMENT, AND SO WE NORMALLY SEE TYPE-2 DIABETES CORRELATED WITH OBESITY, BUT IT'S OTHER THINGS.

>> SO THE PANCREAS IS PRODUCING ENOUGH INSULIN, IT'S JUST NOT -- THE CELLS AREN'T WORKING?

>> YOU MAKE MORE THAN NORMAL.

SO THE BODY SEES THAT THERE'S SUGARS IN EXCESS, STOW KEEPS TRYING TO PRODUCE MORE AND MORE INSULIN BUT THE INSULIN RECEPTOR ON THE CELL IS INSENSITIVE TO IT.

TED: IMPACTS HEALTH IF NOT MANAGE THE PROPERLY.

>> IMPACTS VISION, LIVER, KIDNEY, LUNG, HEART.

ONCE THE HIGH SUGARS CAUSE AN INFLAMMATORY STATE AND THE BODY ATTACKS IT.

TED: YOU HAVE A PLAN, AND YOU ARE MODIFYING WHAT THE DIGESTIVE TRACT, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> RIGHT, WHEN THE FOOD LEAVES THE STOMACH, NOT MUCH IS ABSORBED IN THE STOMACH AT ALL, ABSORPTION STARTS IN THE SMALL INTESTINES, THE LINING OF THAT INTESTINE, THE MUCOSA WHERE THE BEGINNING OF DIGESTION AND ABSORPTION BEGINS.

THERE IS ALL THESE OTHER HORMONES THAT MAKES IT SO THAT IT TESTS OUR RESISTANCE TO INSULIN AND CAN BE AFFECTED BY MANY THINGS.

TED: THE CLINICAL TRIAL LOOKS TO DO WHAT?

SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE USING STEAM, FIRST OF ALL YOU ARE USING STEAM?

HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?

>> YOU NEED HEAT, YOU NEED ENERGY, BASICALLY WHAT THE TRIAL IS DOING IS DENUDING OR ABLATING THE LINING OF DUODENUM SO THAT THE THINGS THAT OCCURRED IN THE PAST THAT IS MADE IT INSENSITIVE OR THE TRANSIENT MOVEMENT AND THE INNER PLAY WITH THE INKRETANS IS INEFFICIENT.

THE GOAL OF THE DEVICE IS THROUGH THE SCOPE, AND IT'S PASSING DOWN AND CREATING JUST BASICALLY A LITTLE CAGE, AND WE'RE VAPORIZING WATER AND BASICALLY CREATING STEAM THAT COOKS BASICALLY THE LINING OF THE DUODENUM.

SO WHAT IT DOES IS, IT ALLOWS THE MUCOSA TO REGROW, AND SO YOU'RE BASICALLY STARTING FRESH WITH NEW, LIKE YOU WERE WHEN YOU WERE BORN.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU'RE REPAINTING A HOUSE OR SOMETHING.

YOU'RE CLEANING EVERYTHING OUT SO THAT IT WILL -- AND IT WILL REGROW?

>> YEAH, IF YOU ARE USING THE ANALOGY OF PAINTING THE HOUSE, LIKE STRIPPING DOWN TO THE BARE WOOD AND STARTING OVER.

TED: AND STARTING OVER.

AND THIS WILL OCCUR, IT WILL START OVER?

>> YEAH, 14 DAYS, ACTUALLY.

TED: THAT QUICKLY?

>> IT'S REMARKABLE.

TED: AND THAT WILL -- THAT JUST IN AND OF ITSELF WILL RESET THE BODY'S ABILITY TO CONTROL IT?

>> MAKES IT MORE EFFICIENT IN PROCESSING SUGARS SO IT'S MORE LIKE WHEN YOU WERE BORN.

IT'S A GRADUAL THING OVER TIME THAT HAPPENS WITH DIABETES, BUT THE BEAUTY OF THIS IS IT CAN BE DONE WITH AN ENDOSCOPE AND ITS DIRECT VISION, TAKES LESS THAN 60 MINUTES.

THE INITIAL STUDIES ON 27 PATIENTS, ALL PATIENCE WERE ON INSULIN.

THEY GOT EVERY PATIENT OFF INSULIN FOR AT LEAST A YEAR.

THEY WERE ABLE TO CONTROL THE SUGARS WITH MEDS OR NOTHING.

TED: THE TESTING IS DONE IN CHILE BUT NOT HERE?

>> RIGHT, THE FDA REQUIRES WE START THE TRIALS HERE AND NOT USE THAT DATA.

THAT'S WHAT THIS IS A PILOT STUDY.

A 10 TO 20 PATIENTS, WE'RE ACTIVELY RECRUITING AT HONORHEALTH.

TED: WILL THIS IMPACT BODY WEIGHT?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A SECONDARY QUESTION FOR SURE, THE PILOT STUDY, SO WE'RE LOOKING AT SAFETY, AND LOOKING AT DECREASING HEMOGLOBIN A, LONG-TERM SUGARS.

WE KNOW IF YOU CONTROL YOUR SUGARS BETTER, THEN YOU SHOULD LOSE WEIGHT, BUT THAT'S FURTHER STUDY.

TED: WILL THIS AFFECT THE DIET OF THOSE WHO UNDERTAKE THE PROCEDURE?

>> WE DON'T ASK THEM TO CHANGE THEIR DIET.

IT'S JUST WHAT THEY DO EAT, THEY SHOULD BE MORE EFFICIENT AT IT.

OBVIOUSLY DIABETICS ARE SUPPOSED TO KEEP DOWN SUGAR CONTENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

TED: OUTPATIENT PROCEDURE?

>> OUTPATIENT PROCEDURE.

TED: AND CAN YOU WALK ACROSS THE STREET AND START EATING AFTERWARDS?

>> WE WANT YOU ON A TAILORED DIET, SOMETHING BLAND FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS, WE RAMP THE DIET UP, NOTHING SIGNIFICANT.

TED: ARE YOU LOOKING FOR FOLKS THAT ARE ALREADY INSULIN DEPENDENT?

>> FOR THIS STUDY, WE WANT FOLKS NOT ON INSULIN.

THIS IS A PILOT TRIAL.

LOOKING TO SHOW TO THE FDA THAT THIS IS SAFE.

YOU PICK THE PATIENTS THAT HAVE THE LEAST RISK FROM THAT STANDPOINT, AND THAT WOULD BE NON-INSULIN PATIENTS.

>> YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PARTICIPANTS, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

TED: WHEN DOES IT START?

>> WE'RE ENROLLING RIGHT NOW.

I SCREENED THE FIRST PATIENT YESTERDAY.

IT TAKES A BIT TO ROLE IN BECAUSE OF THE INCLUSION-EXCLUSION AND TESTING, IF THEY CONTACT THE HONORHEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE, WE'LL TELL THEM MORE.

TED: HOW DO THEY LEARN MORE?

>> HONORHEALTH.COM, THERE'S A RESEARCH TAB AND WE PROVIDE THE PHONE NUMBER.

TED: LAST QUESTION, THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT COULD BE -- ENDOSCOPY, IT'S OBVIOUSLY A PROCEDURE.

>> RIGHT.

TED: BUT IT'S MINIMALLY INVASIVE.

>> AS MINIMAL AS YOU GET.

THE GOAL IS TO GET OFF INSULIN BECAUSE INSULIN IS A BUILDER, THE MORE INSULIN YOU TAKE, THE MORE YOU NEED, YOU GET IN THE DOOM LOOP OF NEEDING MEDICATIONS, IF WE CAN BREAK THE CYCLE WITH A MINIMALLY INVASIVE PROCEDURE, THAT REALLY DOESN'T AFFECT ANYTHING, WE'RE WAY AHEAD OF THE GAME.

TED: SOUNDS ENCOURAGING, DR.

JAMES SWAIN, HONORHEALTH RESEARCH INSTITUTE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

.

TED: THE MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM IS CALLING ON THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO RESTORE FOUNDATIONAL OPERATING AID.

DISTRICT RECEIVED ZERO DOLLARS SINCE 2015, JEOPARDIZING THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND IMPACTING REGIONAL ECONOMY.

STEPHEN GONZALES IS CHANCELLOR OF MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

TED: RESTORING FOUNDATIONAL OPERATING AID.

WHAT IS IT?

>> FORMULA IN STATE STATUTE THAT DESCRIBES HOW MUCH EACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE SHOULD RECEIVE.

IT'S LARGELY BASED ON ENROLLMENT.

WE HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED FROM THE BUDGET SINCE 2015.

WE'RE REINTRODUCED INTO THE BUDGET ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AFTER THAT.

HOWEVER, WE'VE NOT RECEIVED OPERATING AID SINCE THEN.

TED: NOTHING SINCE 2015?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

TED: YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING SOME?

>> WE'RE SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING SOME.

YOU CAN THINK OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FUNDING AS A THREE-LEGGED STOOL, TUITION, PROPERTY TAX AND STATE APPROPRIATION, AND WE ARE NOW A TWO-LEGGED STOOL WHERE, WE DEPEND LARGELY ON TUITION AND PROPERTY TAX.

TED: I HAVE THIS AMOUNTING TO MORE THAN $650 MILLION IN STATE MONEYS?

>> YES.

TED: AND THIS IS MARICOPA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGES ONLY OR I DID SEE PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE ALSO?

>> PIMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT WITH US, A YEAR OR TWO THEY RECEIVED SOME FUNDING, BUT IT WAS VERY MINIMAL.

TED: ARE OTHER COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICTS RECEIVING FUNDING?

>> THEY ARE RECEIVING FORMULAIC FUNDING LARGELY ON ENROLLMENT AND RECEIVING RURAL OPERATING AID, GIVEN WHAT MAY BE AVAILABLE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S TAXABLE ENTITY MAYBE NOT AS MUCH AS MARICOPA AND PIMA DISTRICTS HAVE, SO THEY GET AID TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

TED: WHAT IS THE REASONING IS THE REASONING THAT THE PROPERTY TAXES AND THE TUITION, THE TWO LEGGED STOOL SHOULD BE ENOUGH?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> I WISH I COULD EXPLAIN WHAT'S GOING ON AND THE REASONING BEHIND WHY WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED OPERATING AID, BUT IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO TALK ABOUT WHY WE SHOULD, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO DO THAT.

TED: PLEASE DO.

JUST TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF THE LOSS OF THE AID.

>> SURE.

FOR MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT, WE ARE THE LARGEST PROVIDER OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE.

WHICH GOES HAND IN HAND WITH A STRONG ECONOMY.

SINCE 2015 WITH THE LOSS OF THIS AID, IT'S HARMED OUR ABILITY TO EXPAND IMPORTANT PROGRAMS TO EMPLOYEE THE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE'VE HAD TO MAKE DIFFICULT CHOICES OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THE MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES EDUCATE 150,000 TO 168,000 STUDENTS ON A YEARLY BASIS.

OVER $9 BILLION.

THE ABSENCE OF THE FUNDS IS A CHALLENGE FOR US, BUT CERTAINLY HAVING THOSE WOULD ALLOW US TO DO MORE FOR OUR STATE.

TED: YOU DESCRIBE THIS AS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN ECONOMIC GOALS, AND WE KNOW THE STATE HAS A LOT OF ECONOMIC GOALS.

WE HEAR ABOUT THEM ALL THE TIME.

AND THE INVESTMENT REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THOSE GOALS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT?

>> WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.

WE WOULD LIKE FOR STATE LEGISLATORS TO SEE THE MARICOPA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT AS INVESTMENT THAT THE STATE MAKES.

WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVE THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR YOU INVEST IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES, YOU SEE A $4 RATE OF RETURN, AND GRADUATES WILL SEE A LARGER RATE OF RETURN.

ANOTHER THING I'D LIKE TO POINT OUT ABOUT THE MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT IN SUPPORT OF THE INVESTMENT HERE, 90% OF OUR GRADUATES STAY INSIDE OF MARICOPA COUNTY.

THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN MARICOPA COUNTY ONCE THEY FINISH WITH US.

TED: WORKFORCE PROGRAM, STUDENT SERVICES, THESE THINGS, HAVE YOU HAD TO CUT BACK OR JUST NOT GROW THE WAY YOU'D LIKE TO SEE?

>> WE'VE HAD TO DO BOTH.

HAD TO CUT BACK, OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, WE ENGAGED IN ANNUAL BUDGET CUTS, WHILE WE FACED RISING COSTS OF NATURAL INFLATION, WE'RE VERY MUCH A BUSINESS ORIENTED ORGANIZATION THAT FACES THE SAME COSTS THAT ANY BUSINESS WOULD.

SO THAT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR US AS WELL.

TED: AND OTHER LONG-TERM CHALLENGES THAT YOU SEE, IF THIS DOESN'T GET RECTIFIED?

>> IF IT DOESN'T GET RECTIFIED, WE'VE BEEN SEEING THIS IS AN ONGOING CHALLENGE, WITH THE STATE'S SUDDEN BOOM IN THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY, WE'VE BEEN CALLED UPON TO PRODUCE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 10 AND 15,000 TECHNICIANS, WE KNOW WE CAN GET THE STUDENTS TO FILL THE PROGRAMS.

WITHOUT OPERATING AID, IT MAKES IT CHALLENGING FOR US.

I WANT TO BE FAIR TO THE STATE AND SAY WE RECEIVED ONE-TIME DOLLARS TO SUPPORT WORKFORCE PROGRAMS, BUT ONE-TIME DOLLAR IS ONE-TIME DOLLAR, WE NEED THE MONEY TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING COSTS OF THE PROGRAMS TO ENSURE WE HAVE PROFESSORS THAT WE NEED, TO ALSO ENSURE WE HAVE THE MOST UP TO DATE EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY.

TED: AND YOUR ARGUMENT IS THE STATE DOES PLAY A ROLE IN THIS, THERE IS RESPONSIBILITY THERE, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE STATE DOES HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, AND IT'S IN OUR STATE CONSTITUTION THAT IT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY.

TED: I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO GET TOO DEEPLY INTO WHY THIS IS HAPPENING, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I HAVE TO ASK, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?

>> SO WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD BY SOME IS THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CONTROL OUR TUITION, THAT OUR GOVERNING BOARD HAS THE ABILITY TO CONTROL ITS TAX, BUT NOBODY IS HAPPY TO SEE A TAX INCREASE ON THE PROPERTY, OR TO SEE INCREASE IN TUITION.

OUR BOARD HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB OF KEEPING THOSE AT VERY LOW COST AND BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

TED: IS THAT WHAT YOU HEAR FROM LAWMAKERS?

YOU WERE BETTER ABLE TO HANDLE THIS THAN THE RURAL DISTRICTS?

>> CORRECT.

TED: AT SOME POINT, YOU'RE GOING TO HIT A TIPPING POINT WHEN IT COMES TO TUITION AND TAXES.

>> WE ARE AT THAT TIPPING POINT.

THOSE ARE SOME OF THE VARIABLES THAT OUR GOVERNING BOARD IS CONSIDERING.

AGAIN, THEY'RE PAINFUL DECISIONS TO MAKERS BUT WE'VE GOT A LARGE ORGANIZATION TO RUN AND GOT TO DELIVER ON THE PROGRESS WE MADE TO THE COMMUNITY.

TED: DO YOU THINK THAT THOSE LAWMAKERS IN GENERAL, BUT POLICYMAKERS, OFFICIALS, IS THERE A DISCONNECT?

YOU SAY THERE IS, DO YOU THINK THERE IS BETWEEN COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND THE ECONOMY, PERIOD?

>> I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO OUR LEGISLATORS AND BELIEVE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM AND THE ROLE THAT IT PLAYS.

I ALSO RESPECT THE CHALLENGES THEY HAVE, ESPECIALLY IN TODAY'S ECONOMY WITH OUR STATES FACING REVENUES IN THE STATE.

IT'S A TIGHT BUDGET YEAR.

THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE TOUGH DECISIONS.

ONLY SO MANY WAYS CAN YOU SPLIT THAT DOLLAR.

TED: CHANCELLOR, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

STEPHEN GONZALES, CHANCELLOR OF MARICOPA COMMUNITY COLLEGES, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

TED: THANK YOU.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M TED SIMONS.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.