 |
| CCA President Ron Norton Reel speaks during CTA’s Lobby Day rally in Sacramento. Behind him are CTA board member Tom Conry, CTA President David A. Sanchez, and CTA Vice President Dean E. Vogel. |
By Ron Norton Reel
In January, county tax collectors began reporting sizeable reductions in property taxes that had been projected for this year when the current budget was approved and implemented. Because the community colleges in California do not have the same protections of an automatic backfill to replace any money that is not finalized through tax collection as do grades K-12, CCA/CTA immediately sent forth AB 2277, legislation demanding the backfill portion – approximately $90 million – be augmented in the same manner as the K-12 system.
Eng carries CCA bill
I am happy to report that Assemblyman Mike Eng (D-Monterey Park) carried the CCA/CTA-sponsored bill and that 10 other legislators agreed to sign-on as co-authors. Because of extensive lobbying by the 340,000-member CCA/CTA, as well as other organizations and the Chancellor’s Office, the governor heard the message loud and clear.
Gov. Schwarzenegger’s reinstatement of most of those funds in his May 14 Revise of the State Fiscal Budget signals his continued commitment to the community colleges within our state. However, we must go forward with our legislation to formalize that commitment from all other legislators who may not agree with the importance of community college education and our needed funding.
Avoiding the suspension of Proposition 98, the legislative mandate that establishes a minimum level of funding for education is a step in the right direction, but the governor’s revised budget still cuts $4.3 billion from public education and increases fees for students in our four-year public colleges and universities.
The good news
Of the $92 million property tax shortfall for 2007-08, $75 million is scheduled to be backfilled in the governor’s May Revise. This will mean that any cuts to districts in the current year will be handled by each district’s reserves and should be absorbed without hardship.
California’s community colleges are the only segment of higher education in the state proposed to receive additional general fund money in 2008-09.There is no suspension of Proposition 98 under the new May Revise and no increase in student fees. Another $35.5 million in growth money has been added, making a total of $95.5 million — enough to fund an additional 20,000 students next year. The 2008-2009 budget year appropriation also adds $138.7 million to fund an anticipated property tax shortfall for next year’s budget.
The bad news
The governor is claiming that he is fully funding Proposition 98 and increasing the education budget year over last year by 1.2 percent, and that per-student funding has increased. The truth is that the governor is shortchanging education by $4.3 billion, which includes cutting funding for categorical programs (except for special education) by nearly 6 percent, for a total cost of $900 million.
Furthermore, this budget does not replace the fact that California is still 46th in the nation when it comes to per pupil funding.
Because of unexpected revenue shortfalls, the governor has proposed to fund the revenue limit, which would allow the same level funded for this year to be funded again next year without any Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). You can be sure that CCA/CTA will fight to see that COLA is included in the final budget! Our ability to recruit and retain quality faculty depends on offering adequate salaries – and that means ensuring that our faculty receives COLA.
While Gov. Schwarzenegger has proposed funding the special education categorical, all other categorical programs will be cut nearly 7 percent, or $900 million. (This figure does not include a COLA increase for the categorical programs.)
Lottery Scheme
The governor also proposes to borrow against future revenue created through the lottery to provide funds now. This scheme puts current school funding at risk and fails to provide real, long-term revenue solutions.
The lottery privatization plan gives “first call” of all revenues to Wall Street investors, which means education dollars could be diverted to repay bank loans and cover revenue shortfalls.
CCA is also concerned about closing the state’s $17 billion deficit by relying on more Californians – many of them low-income residents – to buy more lottery tickets. This lottery scheme is a short-term diversion that gambles with California’s future.
CCA/CTA is not only leading the fight to restore COLA in next year’s budget, but is committed to ensuring that schools have adequate, stable and ongoing funding so students and schools continue to improve. We must discontinue this cuts-only approach to solving the state’s $17 billion budget deficit. It hurts our schools, our colleges, and ultimately, all of California. It’s time for lawmakers to consider revenue increases.
