Prop 30 Op-Ed (Final Draft)

            The funding model for the California educational system is in need of repair. From 2008-09 to 2011-12, California Community College course sections were reduced by 24% according to the California Community Colleges Chancellors Office. Also, the official CSU website states that CSU tuition has increased by 380% over the past 10 years. Something needs to be done to get our schools the funding they need. California Governor Jerry Brown has a proposed solution: Proposition 30. As stated in the official title and summary, Prop 30 would increase the sales tax on all Californians by 1/4% (that's only 3/4 of a penny more for a $3.00 latte) for the next four years. It would also increase the income tax on the top 1% of earners by 1-3% for the next seven years. This revenue would be channeled into an account titled the Education Protection Account which would appropriate the funds; 89% to K-12, and 11% to Community Colleges. This proposition is a good temporary solution for California school funding because it will allow schools to not have to cut back on classes and programs over the next four years while lawmakers figure out a more permanent solution. 

Education is important for our future. We live in a state that is creating knowledge based jobs at a rapid pace but our educational system is lagging. If California industries can't find an educated workforce in California, they're going to start moving their jobs out of state or even out of the country. If Proposition 30 fails, CSU students could see a 5% tuition increase next semester according to the Los Angeles Times. With the rising cost of education in our state, students are less encouraged to try for a four year degree knowing that they will have massive student loans to pay off after they get their degree. Proposition 30 will stop the tuition increases in CSU's and other public higher education schools making education more affordable and accessible for all high school graduates.

As mentioned above, the proposition will raise revenue through increased taxes. Whenever most voters hear the phrase "increased taxes" it triggers them. This is why it needs to be put into perspective. There are two parts to this new tax; the first part is sales tax. As I stated in the first paragraph, the sales tax will be increased by a quarter of one percent. The current rate is 7.5% so if Prop 30 passes it will go up to 7.75%. I gave an example of a small ticket item such as getting coffee but what about something larger, how about an iPad? A new 32GB iPad costs $599, with current taxes it would be a total of $643.93. With Prop 30 it would cost $645.42, only a difference of $1.50, and this was for an expensive product. On a day to day basis the increase will not even be noticeable. 

The second part of the tax plan is a 1-3% income tax increase on the fiscal top 1% of Californians. To be classified as such you would have to be bringing in $250,000-$300,000 annually as an individual or $500,000-$600,000 annually as a household. Even at this high income amount they will only be increased by 1% going from a 9.3% income tax to 10.3%.  It goes up to 11.3% for individuals that are making $300,000-$500,000 or families $600,000-$1,000,000, and 12.3% for individuals that make $500,000 or more and families that bring in $1,000,000 or more. If you make below $250,000 as an individual or below $500,000 as a family this proposition will not increase your income tax at all.

Even though it seems like these tax increases are minuscule, they actually will raise $6 billion annually that will go directly to the Education Protection Account. As a Community College student, I have seen the effects of budget cuts. Many courses that I would have liked to take don't exist anymore and I am often left with my fifth choice class schedule each semester due to class cuts. With Prop 30 my college wouldn't have to lay off more teachers, cut financial aid, deny enrollment, and cut classes and programs. Conversely, if Prop 30 failed it would institute trigger cuts that would cut Community Colleges by $338 million and all of the things mentioned above would take place on a large scale. Also, three weeks would be cut off at the end of the year in the K-12 public schools if Prop 30 failed, putting strain on working parents.

Two arguments against Prop 30 are that it will increase taxes on average Californians, and that there is no guarantee that the revenue will go to our schools. As I elaborated on earlier, the taxes will hardly impact average citizens and won't increase their income tax at all, and even for the top 1% of Californians that are affected by the income tax increase, it will only be a 1-3% increase and these are the citizens that can afford it. As for the second point it is completely guaranteed that this money will go to our schools. The new revenue will go directly into the Education Protection Account which, as mentioned before, will give 89% to the K-12 system and 11% to the Community College system. It even stipulates that none of this money can go to administrative costs and that it is subject to a state audit at any time. 

With schools getting more funding from the state, counties will be able to focus their resources on other projects such as public safety and prisoner rehabilitation programs and will be less financially burdened by their regions public schools.            

Proposition 38 is another initiative on the November ballot. Unlike Prop 30 it will increase income tax on most California earners, not just the 1%, and will not provide any revenue towards public higher education according to the official proposition proposal. The major downfall is that only one of these initiatives can pass. If Prop 38 gets more Yes votes than Prop 30, Prop 30 will fail and the trigger cuts will take place.

In November, California voters will be faced with a choice, not just about which Presidential candidate they want to elect but also about our states future in regards to education. You can choose to support a proposition that will not help colleges in any way and increase your income tax (38), or vote for a proposition that will guarantee funding for the K-12 system in addition to Colleges, while not hurting your wallet.