Ruff Draft

It’s clear to voters that something has to be done about California’s budget crisis. The state debt (recent estimates say $28 billion) often makes headlines (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/21/us/california-debt-higher-than-earlier-estimates.html?_r=0) but California voters, who seem to categorically oppose tax hikes, have rejected the last 8 proposed tax increases. Meanwhile schools have suffered continuous cuts to funding, leading to increased tuition costs and reduced course offerings for community colleges and larger class sizes and less staff for k-12 schools among other hardships.(http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/b/brooks_barnes/index.html) Jerry Brown proposes a solution in the form of proposition 30, which will prevent further cuts to education by a instating 4 year .25% sales tax increase and a 7 year income tax increase for California’s wealthiest earners.

If prop 30 does not pass, a pre-approved package of ‘trigger cuts’ will go into effect on January first 2013, automatically cutting another 5.4 billion dollars from grade schools and community colleges (http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201210030850/a). If prop 30 does pass it is estimated that it will earn $6 billion a year for 4 years. This money will be set aside for education and public safety (including education in prisons and supervision of parolees) and will free up some of the state’s general fund that was being used for education.

            The passage of prop 30 would help ease the financial burden for California’s schools. If the proposition does not pass community colleges like Cabrillo will lose an additional 7.3% in funding, which will mean losing space for 780 full time students at Cabrillo. That means less young people and community members will be able to further their education and more people will be locked out of opportunities for career advancement. More cuts will affect the educational opportunities of almost a thousand people in our area alone, and similar repercussions will be felt all over the state. With previous budget cuts we have already seen restrictions placed on community college students regarding course attempts, fewer classes being offered, less tutoring and support staff, reduced hours and tuition increases. This illustrates that less funding means more obstacles to student success. If we continue to cut funds from education, we are setting up our students and children for failure and California will continue to fall further behind in education.

            California is one of the most expensive states to live, and most voters are opposed to paying more in taxes when they are already struggling financially. However, the tax burden of proposition 30 will be minimal for the majority of voters. The sales tax will increase by only ¼ of a percent, or one penny for every $4.00. The income tax increase will only affect the wealthiest 3% of California residents (individuals earning over $250,000 or families making over $500,000), raising their income tax by 1-3% for seven years. It is in everyone’s best interest to make education accessible, and California’s wealthiest tax payers have the means to do just that.

As a long time community college student and daughter of a long time public school employee I have experienced and witnessed the increased budget cuts and the hardship it creates for students and administrators. These past two semesters I have been unable to register for courses that are required for me to transfer due to over enrollment, and I have had no choice but to prolong my stay at community college for an additional year. I have also spent time volunteering at the public elementary school where my mom was office manager and seen how teachers are overwhelmed by increasing class sizes and decreasing funds as well as how my mom had to struggle to complete an ever increasing workload with less help and less hours. Our public schools cannot get by with less than they already receive, and voters need to recognize that.

            Many students like me who live away from home and pay for school out of pocket will find it difficult to continue their education if California continues to cut school funding to make room in the budget. Many students like me may find it impossible to pay for school with more tuition increases. More students will struggle to complete their required classes due to limitations on attempts and classes being cut, increasing the time spent in community college and the time it takes to transfer or graduate. Without more funding for education, California will see a decrease in college graduates and by extension a decrease in the standard of living. Those who can’t afford college will have to forgo an education or leave the state to obtain an affordable education, creating a ‘brain drain’ for California. Even those who don’t attend school or don’t have children who attend school will suffer if Californian voters don’t decide to make education a priority, because California’s economy will suffer.

            There is another proposition to fund education on the ballot with proposition 30. Proposition 38 proposes to fund education by raising income tax on a sliding scale for all Californians earning over $7,316  for 12 years. Some of the funding earned would go to education and early childhood development and some would go to paying off state debt (http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_38,_State_Income_Tax_Increase_to_Support_Education_(2012)) . Unfortunately both measures cannot pass since they both involve raising income tax, and the proposition with the most ‘yes’ votes will take precedence if both propositions pass. Proposition 30 is the better choice because it doesn’t raise income tax on poorer Californians and the money will be allocated specifically for education and public safety.

            California voters should support proposition 30 because it is the best course of action to take to protect California’s education system. Without a properly funded education system California’s citizens will be unprepared for higher education and the workforce. Fewer people will be able to earn college degrees and secure well-paying jobs. If proposition 30 passes the tax increase will be slight for most Californian’s and those who can afford it will pay their fair share. And Propostition 30 is supported by the people most affected by it, including California Teachers association, Academic Senate and California Faculty Association.