Prop 30 is a clear statement that we value education in California. We rank 47th in the nation on how much we spend per student. It’s appalling that we, a state that could qualify as our own country based on our economy, have decided that our youth are better off with a subpar education.
So let’s clarify what Prop 30 actually does. It raises the income tax on people making over $250,000 a year by one to three percent, which would affect less than three percent of the population. There is a slight increase in sales tax, but only by 0.25 percent.
Despite what opponents of Prop 30 say, the money raised is not unrestricted. By law, 89 percent of the tax funds go directly to school districts, and 11 percent goes to community colleges.
These extra funds for community colleges could be used to hire more teachers, allowing more students to attend these schools. More students will be able to attend community colleges for two years and then transfer to a UC or Cal State, which in turn reduces the burden on UC’s and Cal States, allowing them to increase the number of students they accept.
The vast majority of funds, however, go towards local school districts. According to recent revenue estimates, $6,052,000,000 will go directly to districts. These funds cannot be used to increase administrator salaries, which is a stipulation Temple City voters should appreciate.
If Prop 30 fails, Temple City schools could face a nightmare scenario. TCUSD could cut spending per student by $460. That’s over $2,500,000 of cuts that we, the students, would have to bear.
Class sizes could balloon beyond any reasonable number, extracurriculars like music and art would be cut and the school district could be forced to have 15 furlough days, or days where students and staff don’t go to school. All this could become a reality if voters decide against Prop 30.
Voters beware though, don’t confuse Prop 30 with Prop 38, which is another tax increase designed to fund schools. Prop 38 would raise taxes on anyone making over $7,316 per year, which affects the majority of Californians rather than solely high income households.
A quick glance at the top donators for the “No on Prop 30” campaign paints a clear picture. Name after name of modern day barons and baronesses line the top donor list. Apparently these individuals are more concerned with the bottom line of their checkbook than the bottom line of our schools.
Currently, those at the top are sacrificing the least to support public education. A person whose income is $999,999 a year pays the same tax rate as someone whose income is $50,000 a year. Are low tax rates for the wealthiest of the population so important that we are willing to let our schools crumble and our students go uneducated?
Let’s take a stand on education, let’s reinvigorate our schools and let’s remember where our future lies. Let’s make the right decision and vote yes on Prop 30.