Prop 30 Almost-Final Draft

Op-Ed Prop 30 Almost-Final Draft

Emilio Cantu-Gil

Professor Stacy Knapp

English 2B

October 14, 2012

                California is renowned for its world class educational system that educates millions of students every year. People travel from all corners of the earth to study here in the Golden State. Unfortunately, if the budget crisis continues the way it is, this won’t be true for much longer. California’s educational system has faced $20 billion in cuts in the past four years, and has laid off over 30,000 educators. California will suffer, taking its students down with it, unless California passes Proposition 30. Prop 30 is the only initiative that protects school and safety funding.

Proposition 30 is important for California and its citizen’s future, not only because it prevents further cuts to schools, but because it ensures further funding for safety programs, and it balances the budget. How it does this is it raises income taxes 1% for only the wealthiest families making over $500,000, 2% for families making $600,000, and 3% for families making $1,000,000 or more. For individuals making $250,000 their income taxes will raise 1%, 2% for individuals making $300,000, and 3% for individuals making $500,000. It also raises sales tax a quarter cent for every one dollar you spend for four years, which, according to the California Labor Federation, will still be lower than last year’s sales tax. 90% of prop 30’s revenue will come from California’s highest earners.

Prop 30, if passed, will accomplish a lot. It prevents future cuts to schools by raising billions of dollars in revenue. This will allow for smaller classes, updated textbooks, and more teachers and faculty. It ensures further funding for public safety programs by guaranteeing it in the states constitution. In addition safety programs will be localized so elected officials can decide how it best helps their community. It will also help fund certain prison programs. Prop 30 balances the budget by helping pay for years of debt that the state of California has accumulated.

The Independent Voter Network, who oppose Prop 30, claim that the budget crises are the result of systematic, legislative and budgeting issues that can’t be fixed by a tax increase. Instead we need to enable the legislature without the “shackles” of term limits, so they can save California with supreme legislative power. They say that budgeting is a “nuanced process” that should only be handled by our elected representatives. If we as a state don’t like what are legislators are doing, we can simply remove them from office in a future election. Personally I don’t believe the solution that is being proposed by the Independent Voter Network will effectively fix our state budget issues. The budget crisis needs a more effective an immediate solution, Prop 30 is that solution.

If Prop 30 doesn’t pass the consequences would be astronomical for California. Schools will have to suffer an additional $6 billion in cuts; $5.8 billion of those dollars would be cut from public education.  CSU students can expect a $150 tuition increase, and K-12 would get 3 weeks of school cut. I know that in my Jr. College, Cabrillo College, this would mean a 7.3% reduction in funding, that’s $3.5 million. This would be equivalent to not admitting 780 students, cutting one in thirteen classes, or eliminating five programs. This would result in less staff availability, reduced counseling, and cuts in services. These services include the Writing Center, Math Learning Center, Tutorials, Children’s Center, Financial Aid, Division Offices, The Library, Student Employment, Student Affairs, and others that greatly support the students. Just the reduction in services will eliminate roughly 95 positions, and these are just the cuts that are occurring to my JC, imagine how it affects all other schools in the state.

Prop 30 has the support from people and organizations that only have California’s best interest at heart. According to yesonprop30.com and the California Labor Federation these groups and people include Governor Brown, the League of Woman Voters of California (LWVC), individuals in law enforcement, educators, community groups, the CSU board of trustees, Academic Senate, California Faculty Association, CA Student Association, CA Teachers Association, and others. These groups advocate and fight for Prop 30 because they all agree that passing Prop 30 is is the best thing for California’s students, and its future.

I cannot stress enough how vitally important passing Prop 30 is for the future of California’s education. If you are a student this decision will directly affect your education as it does mine. If you are a parent, this will affect your child’s education, and the community you live in. If you are an educator or law enforcement professional, this will affect you and your community. If you are a California Citizen, and you care for your states future, there is absolutely no reason you wouldn’t vote YES for Proposition 30!

Works Cited

"Newspapers throughout the State Agree - Yes on Prop 30." YES on 30. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://www.yesonprop30.com/>.

 "Take a Stand for Schools and Local Public Safety." California Labor Federation. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://www.calaborfed.org/index.php/site/page/yes_on_prop_30_take_a_stand_for_schools_and_public_safety>.

"Proposition 30 Best Option Available to Fund Schools." The Modesto Bee. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://www.modbee.com/2012/10/13/2412776/yes-on-proposition-30.html>.

"Unfiltered Political News. For You. By You." Independent Voter Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://ivn.us/2012/09/10/proposition-30-wont-fix-california-budget-issues/>.