Education Leaders Support Governor’s Call to Extend Temporary Tax Revenues
West Sacramento, Calif. – The California School Boards Association applauds Governor Brown’s efforts to propose honest budget solutions that are devoid of financial gimmicks, and supports the Governor’s proposal to extend temporary taxes in order to ensure education funding avoids even deeper cuts.
“We truly appreciate the Governor’s attempt to work within the current economic situation while trying to protect K-12 education, but the reality is that schools have already been cut $18 billion, approximately $1,900 per student, and if temporary taxes are not extended to support education, the additional $2 billion in cuts that schools face are unfathomable,” said CSBA President, Martha Fluor.
Currently, K-12 schools receive only 82 cents for every dollar promised under current state law, which means the state applies a “deficit factor” to school funding of 17.96 percent. At a time when some schools barely have the resources to keep the doors open, additional cuts to education are not an option.
“Surely the richest state in the nation can find a way to do better,” said Rick Pratt, Assistant Executive Director of Governmental Relations at the California School Boards Association. “Doing better by our children is not a matter of affordability; it’s a matter of priorities.”
According to the non-profit organization, EdSource, California now ranks among the bottom five states in the number of staff per student; 50th in the nation in the ratio of teachers to pupils; 50th in the ratio of counselors to students; 51st in the ratio of librarians to students; 48th in the ratio of school principals; and 47th in the ratio of school district administrators to students.
Now, more than ever, California’s students need the support of the State Legislature and voters to ensure schools do not face additional draconian cuts.
The California School Boards Association will provide additional analysis of the recent budget proposal during its Forecast Webcast on Thursday, January 13. Panelists will include Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Dr. Christopher Thornberg of Beacon Economics; and Rick Pratt, CSBA Assistant Executive Director of Governmental Relations. For more information, please contact Brittany McKannay, Public Information Officer, at (916) 669-3244.