SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- About 100 teachers protested the impending cuts to education Thursday night at a Republican town hall focused on the budget.

Many teachers wore pink in support of those who got pink slips.

“Am I going to have to move out of state? I’ve considered going out of the country to teach,” said Gail Wagoner, a teacher who learned recently she was losing her job. “I just don't know what to do.”

Wagoner is an art teacher with three years under her belt. Her job was one of the first on the chopping block because it's her first year teaching in Scottsdale Unified School District.

Wagoner bought a second house a few years ago, but couldn't sell the first when the real estate market collapsed. Now she is preparing to foreclose on both houses.

“Losing your job, you reevaluate. ‘Am I going to eat or pay my mortgage?’ It becomes a simple choice,” said Wagoner.

Inside the town hall, the state’s Republican leadership answered questions about budget related issues. State Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa vowed not to raise taxes.

State Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills said the cuts to education would not be as severe as many fear.

"The education community is working under a false assumption we are cutting $900 million, and we’re not,” said Rep. Kavanagh. “Not even a quarter of that. The doomsday scenario of all these layoffs will not occur.”

Thousands of Arizona teachers have received reduction in force notices. Some may ultimately get their jobs back. But those decisions likely won’t happen until May or June, when the state budget is expected to be finalized.