Democratic Lawmakers Pass State Budget, Outcome for Education Still Uncertain
West Sacramento, Calif.
-- California School Boards Association President Martha Fluor released the following statement in response to the recently approved 2011-12 state budget.
"For months, school board members, parents, teachers, business leaders and community members both Democrat and Republican have urged legislators throughout the state to put students before politics and make education a priority by extending temporary taxes. While the approved state budget still lacks the certainty districts need to make sound fiscal decisions, we recognize that the governor was left with no other choice.
"We are grateful that Democratic lawmakers and the governor worked diligently to provide the best budget scenario possible without the necessary two-thirds support to extend taxes and protect education from deeper cuts. Unfortunately, without the tax extensions, the budget defers an additional $2.1 billion of K-12 education funding and creates the possibility of an additional $1.9 billion in mid-year 'trigger' cuts to schools.
"School board members now need to plan their district budgets with the understanding that if new revenues do not amount to the $4 billion projected in this state budget, education will face nearly $2 billion more in mid-year cuts."
For more information, please contact Brittany McKannay at (916) 669-3244.