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Ron Norton Reel |
With the budget ax looming over California’s public schools and colleges, CCA/CTA is mobilizing to fight drastic cuts to education and any attempts to infringe on Proposition 98, California’s minimum education funding law.
“California’s community colleges are already 45th in the nation in per pupil funding,” said CCA President Ron Norton Reel. “Falling further will have a negative impact on our students and on California’s economy especially at a time when the state needs trained, educated people for the workforce.”
Worked with Legislature
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Dián Hasson |
Thus far, CCA/CTA has worked with the state Legislature to keep the proposed midyear cuts as far away as possible from students. In January, the governor had proposed reducing the Proposition 98 funding guarantee by $400 million, including a $40 million cut in funding to community colleges. Under pressure from CCA/CTA, the cuts were kept to a minimum.
“CTA and others worked together in getting $31 million in unallocated funds from the Chancellor’s Office to be used to make up for the Governor’s midyear cuts,” said Dián Hasson, CTA board member representing higher education.
At press time, it was determined that there had been errors by assessors in two counties regarding the amount of property taxes collected, resulting in a statewide property tax shortfall of about $74 million in 2007-08. The Chancellor’s Office has prepared a computer run that will be available to each district explaining what the loss will mean to them.
Meanwhile, the Legislature is now turning to the 2008-09 budget. CCA and the entire Education Coalition will continue to oppose cuts to education, and infringements on Proposition 98, the minimum school funding guarantee.
Voters support Prop. 98
“Voters passed Prop. 98 almost 20 years ago to ensure our students and schools receive minimum funding,” said CTA President David A. Sanchez. “Proposals to suspend Prop. 98 conflict with the will of the voters and jeopardize the minimum education funding levels Prop. 98 provides for students and schools.”
CCA/CTA has also introduced sponsored legislation (see story below) that will guarantee community colleges receive their full 11 percent share of funds from Prop. 98 – a law that will bring additional funding to the colleges.
In addition, CCA leaders like Reel and CTA Board Member Hasson point out that the community colleges around the state currently have almost $1 billion in reserves, and that money should be accessed for 2008-09 before the state slashes course offerings or increases tuition.
“The collective beginning balances of the 72 districts for the past three years demonstrate there is no need to cut classes for students, or to cut staff, or faculty,” Reel said. “California citizens, and community college students specifically, need to ask the simple question, ‘When is enough unrestricted reserves enough?’ ”