Proposition 30 Op-Ed Final Draft

Op-Ed Prop 30

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, this won’t be true for much longer. California’s educational system has faced $20 billion in cuts in the past four years, and as a result over 30,000 educators have been laid off. California will suffer, taking its students down with it, unless California passes Proposition 30. Prop 30 is the only initiative on the ballot this November that protects school and safety funding. As a community college student I will be personally impacted by the passage of Prop 30, along with 15,000 other students whom I attend Cabrillo College with.

Proposition 30 is important for California and its citizen’s future, not only because it prevents further cuts to schools, ensures further funding for safety programs, but it also balances the budget. It accomplishes these goals by raising income taxes by 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 be raised by 1%, individuals making $300,000 will be raised by 2%, and individuals making $500,000 will be raised by 3%. It also raises sales tax for everyone a quarter cent for every one dollar you spend for the next four years. According to the California Labor Federation, California sales tax will still be lower under Prop 30 than it was last year. It is estimated that 90% of Prop 30’s revenue will come from California’s highest earners.

Prop 30, if passed, will prevent future cuts to schools by raising billions of dollars in revenue. This will allow for smaller classes, updated textbooks, 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 opposes Prop 30, and claims that the budget crises is the result of systematic, legislative and budgeting issues that can’t be fixed by a tax increase. Instead they believe we need to enable 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. If this was a valid solution to our budget issues, wouldn’t they already have been enacted? The budget crisis needs a more effective and immediate solution, and Prop 30 is that solution.

If Prop 30 doesn’t pass the consequences will be astronomical for students in the California educational system. Schools will suffer an additional $6 billion in cuts; $5.8 billion of those dollars will be cut from public education. Students attending the CSU system can expect a $150 tuition increase, and K-12 students will have their school year reduced by three weeks. According to the California Federation of Teachers, the cuts to Cabrillo College will result in a 7.3% reduction in funding. This $3.5 million dollar cut is equivalent to denying admission to 780 students, cutting one in thirteen classes, or eliminating five average-size programs. This will result in a reduction in support staff, 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 other services 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 Cabrillo. Imagine the devastating impact that these cuts will have on the other millions of students throughout the state. To me, and other students, this could mean that classes that we need to transfer may get cut, or it may take longer for us to complete our AA degrees. For other students it means that they’ll need to take out more loans because tuition has become more expensive, or they can’t get the occupational classes they need in order to go back to the work force. These cuts are very real and will be felt by every student and their family.

Prop 30 is supported by people and organizations that 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, among 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. This Proposition will protect and ensure continued funding for all levels of our educational system. 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 our students, public safety, a balanced budget, and the future of California, there is absolutely no reason you shouldn’t vote YES for Proposition 30!

Works Cited

"Cabrillo With or Without Prop 30." PowerPoint. Cabrillo College. Cabrillo College Federation of Teachers, 27 Aug. 2012. Web. 2 Oct. 2012.

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

"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>.

 "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>.

"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/>.