The newly enacted state budget for 2006-07 “will allow local schools to restore funding to education programs that have been cut over the past few years and provide for salary increases,” says CTA President Barbara E. Kerr.
Following are some of the budget highlights:
- COLA is fully funded for K-12, county offices of education and community colleges at 5.92 percent, and includes most categoricals, special education and class size reduction.
- Growth is fully funded for K-12 and county offices (4 percent for community colleges).
- The deficit will be completely eliminated for K-12 and county offices, adding nearly 0.9 percent to bring the average COLA to 6.87 percent before equalization funding is added. The average funded base revenue limit amounts to $5,273 for elementary schools, $6,339 for high schools and $5,501 for unified districts.
- Equalization funding is $350 million for K-12 and $159.4 million for community colleges, which could mean another 1.5 percent permanent increase on average in the base revenue limit for eligible districts. The $17.8 million for county offices was eliminated.
- Effective with the spring term of 2007, student fees at community colleges will be decreased from $26 per unit to $20.
- A key element of the $55.1 billion education segment of the new state budget is a discretionary block grant of $534 million. Seventy-five percent of the funds — $400 million — will go directly to schools, where site councils will decide how best to use the money. The other 25 percent — $134 million — will be sent to school districts.