With the General Election looming over our heads, Californians are faced with more than their choice for president, we have to deal with those darn propositions. Propositions in and of themselves are a tricky matter, as Robert J. Elisberg argues, the proposition system “is based on the premise of full-participation democracy of an informed citizenry...” The problem with leaving the task of voting on propositions to the public is that many citizens vote based off a thirty second commercial they saw on TV, most citizens do not take the time to fully research what their yes or no vote will mean.
The upcoming vote has two propositions geared towards the education budget, lets focus on Proposition 30; as the Official Voter Information Guide explains, this is a temporary tax to fund education. What does that mean? Income tax will be increased by 1-3% for anyone earning more than $250,000 for seven years and the sales tax (which is currently 8.75% in Los Angeles) will be increased by 1/4 cent for the next four years. The funds generated from the increased taxes will then be used to fund schools, public safety realignment, and other programs the current state budget cannot fund.
Governor Jerry Brown has been arguing that a yes vote on this proposition would be in the best interest of California and the education system, in his opinion it is “a sound way to balance the state’s budget, stave off devastating cuts to public schools and community colleges and restore billions slashed from public education.” Yes on Prop 30 claims the money generated by this proposition will be put in an “account the legislature can’t touch” and at the end of each year an audit will be available to the public to insure “the funds are being spent properly.”
Those against the passing of Proposition 30 argue that the $50 billion raised by higher income and sales tax are not guaranteed to aid schools, the government will still be able to spend the money how they se fit. No on Prop 30 argues there is no guarantee the revenue will be available for schools, rather than reforming our current system the government is increases taxes that “destroys small business and kills jobs.”
If proposition 30 does not pass, the Cal State system will face a budget cut of $250 million, having already raised tuition in the past year, Cal States will have to increase tuition by another 5% for California residents and 7% for non-resident students to make up for the loss in budget. In the event that Prop 30 passes, this hike in tuition will not go into effect and the 9% hike that took place in January will be repealed. Meaning every student that paid tuition would receive a refund for the 9% increase they paid.
Cal State students not only face possible increases in tuition if Prop 30 does not pass, many prospective students are losing out on the opportunity to attend college, it is projected that the schools face “20,000 qualified students turned away, 5,500 class sections slashed, and 1,500 faculty and staff reductions.”
While a yes vote will increase sales tax in California and income tax for the wealthiest 1% of Californians, the California Budget Project argues “Proposition 30 presents voters with the opportunity to begin reversing a decade of disinvestment in California.” Education funding has been on the back burner in terms of funding for many years now, despite increases in taxes, it might be time to start reinvesting in our future and the future of the youth.
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