GOVERNOR’S BUDGET IS COMPLEX PACKAGE TIED TO NEW REVENUES
Governor Brown’s January proposal is a complex budget package that seeks new revenues to prevent further cuts in educational programs and to balance the state’s budget.

NEW REVENUES ARE NEEDED TO RESTORE STUDENT PROGRAMS ACSA’s goal is to work with the Administration and lawmakers to address the ongoing need for new revenues in 2012-13 for our schools and students. We believe any budget solution for 2012-13 must include the additional revenues necessary to maintain core educational programs.

The three school funding initiatives planned for the November 2012 ballot will provide much-needed revenues to schools and students. They include:

Governor Brown’s initiative. This measure would temporarily raise the sales tax by a half-cent and the income tax on upper-income Californians. The measure is expected to raise $6.9 billion annually and is focused on closing the budget deficit and funding education. If approved by voters, it would increase Proposition 98 funding by $2.5 billion.

The Local Schools and Early Education Act (co-sponsored by Molly Munger and the California State PTA). This measure would raise the state personal income tax by one percentage point on a sliding scale. If approved by voters, the measure would be implemented in two phases from 2012 to 2024. In the first four years, the measure would generate $5 billion annually for schools. In the final eight years, it is expected to raise more than $10 billion annually. The funding would be in addition to Proposition 98 funding for schools.

The Millionaires Tax of 2012 (sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers). The measure would raise taxes on millionaires making more than $1 million a year. Thirty- six percent of the revenues are targeted to restore cuts in K-12 education; 24 percent for higher education; 25 percent for services for children, seniors, and the disabled; 10 percent for public safety; and 5 percent for roads and bridges. If approved by voters, it would raise $6-9 billion in 2012-13 and annually thereafter. The funding would be in addition to Proposition 98 funding for schools.

The three initiatives are now in the signature-gathering stage, which provides initiative sponsors 150 days to gather a requisite number of valid voter signatures for an initiative to appear on the statewide ballot. ACSA’s Board of Directors is expected to take positions on the initiatives at its May 11 meeting.

ACSA OPPOSES UNJUSTIFIED TRIGGER CUTS
The Governor’s budget proposal includes a $5 billion cut to public schools if voters do not approve his temporary tax proposal. ACSA is opposed to disproportionate trigger cuts to Proposition 98 if the Governor’s ballot initiative fails. ACSA also is concerned about the temporary nature of the Governor’s proposed revenue package because it does not allow schools to plan for the long term. ACSA also opposes the permanent shift of sales and use taxes to local government, as this shift would further erode Proposition 98 funding in the long term.

ACSA OPPOSES MANIPULATIONS TO PROPOSITION 98
ACSA strongly opposes any attempt to permanently manipulate the Proposition 98 funding guarantee. We recently filed a lawsuit with CSBA to challenge these unconstitutional actions in the 2011-12 state budget.

POLICY CHANGES DESERVE FULL HEARING SEPARATE FROM BUDGET
ACSA believes that the implementation of a weighted student formula should be phased in and include an infusion of resources to ensure there are no losers. Programs that are separate and unique from the core educational program should be preserved. These include adult education, ROC/Ps, Community Day Schools, Juvenile Court Schools, Special Education, and Home-to-School Transportation.

ACSA OPPOSES ELIMINATION OF SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION
ACSA opposes the Governor’s proposal to eliminate school transportation from the state budget.

ACSA SEEKS RESOLUTION ON STATE MANDATES
ACSA believes that state mandates should either be paid or eliminated.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION MUST BE A PRIORITY
ACSA is pleased by the Governor’s efforts to work with districts to provide services for early childhood education.

CALIFORNIA MUST INVEST IN STUDENTS AND SCHOOLS
California funding for schools and students has been cut by more than $18 billion in the last three years alone. These are unprecedented times for education in California. At no  time in history have we had such high expectations for our schools and students with so few resources to meet them.

This year Californians will have an opportunity to vote to raise revenues to prevent deeper cuts to schools. There’s no doubt that an immediate investment in education is  necessary to prevent more harm to generations of students.

ACSA's 2012-13 State Budget Talking Points [PDF]

More on the 2012-13 State Budget from ACSA's Governmental Relations Department.