Fighting for Funding
A key event in the state budget process will occur on May 14, when Gov. Davis is slated to unwrap his May Revision, an updated budget package that includes new estimates of state revenue and revised spending proposals. The revision will include a budget proposal that has been adjusted to account for the updated forecasts.
CTA has been engaging in discussions about keeping unavoidable cuts as far away from the classroom as possible.
Lawmakers two weeks ago approved a package of bills that make an additional $3.6 billion in cuts to state programs, and last week Gov. Davis signed the measures into law. CTA efforts paid dividends, because lawmakers and the governor listened to teachers' voices and kept the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible.
The measure included two provisions that affect schools. In line with falling state revenues, the bills reduce Proposition 98 funding by $328 million to the guaranteed minimum. These reductions include delaying by one month the distribution of state funding for staff development payments and capturing savings from unexpended funds in current year accounts. The plan as adopted also contains a CTA-opposed provision to delay indefinitely a $500 million annual state contribution to the State Teachers' Retirement System (STRS).
Lawmakers are required to send the governor a balanced budget proposal by June 15, and the governor is also required to make his changes and sign a budget into law by June 30. Those state constitutional deadlines have often been missed, and no penalties exist for missing these deadlines.
As CTA officers and other representatives have met with the governor and lawmakers, they have consistently opposed across-the-board cuts and cuts in base revenue limits, class size reduction, growth, schools of greatest need, and Special Education.
The consistent theme in the Association advocacy has been keeping the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible.
CTA Members:
CTA members should continue urging lawmakers and the governor to preserve education funding. Tell lawmakers and the governor that any unavoidable education cuts should be made as far away from the classroom as possible.
CTA members should tell the governor and lawmakers to reject across-the-board education cuts and cuts in base revenue limits, class size reduction, growth, schools of greatest need, and Special Education.