CSBA board gives conceptual support to June tax vote
Published: January 25, 2011
Gov. Jerry Brown has not yet released details of his proposed ballot measure to extend several temporary tax measures as part of a solution to California’s projected $25 billion shortfall, but supporters of public education are among those already endorsing the idea that voters deserve an opportunity to decide the issue for themselves.
CSBA’s Board of Directors voted Jan. 22 to support the concept that Californians ought to have an opportunity to vote on extensions. In doing so, the board cited the Policy Platform adopted by the association’s Delegate Assembly.
The platform’s section on Funding and Finance begins: “As stipulated in the Constitution of the state of California, K-12 public education shall have first priority among expenditures of the state’s public funds. To fulfill the intent of this constitutional commitment, the state must provide a level of funding commensurate with ensuring the highest level of quality instruction for every student.”
The Delegate Assembly strengthened the association’s stand in 2009, declaring that CSBA “supports the exploration of all revenue streams … to further fund public education in California.” That section was added in response to state fiscal problems that already existed in 2009, and the crisis has only worsened since then.
New state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson was an early advocate for a special election. Declaring “a state of financial emergency in California’s schools” just days after taking office, Torlakson expressed conceptual support for the governor’s proposed special election in June. As Brown’s budget proposal frames it, voters would be asked to approve a five- year extension of four revenue streams that are currently set to expire; they include a 1 percent state sales tax, a 0.25 percent personal income tax surcharge; a 0.5 percent vehicle license fee surcharge; and a reduction in the state income tax’s dependent exemption credit.
The Legislature must agree on details of a special election proposal by early March in order to put the question to voters in June, before the state’s 2011-12 fiscal year begins in July.