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Californians Want School Funding Without Sales Tax Hike
People should be aware that the governor's income and sales tax will not bring any additional money to schools. The revenue that goes to schools is money that has previously been taken from schools. He's paying back a debt. Paying back a debt to schools is not the same as giving money to schools. With the governor's proposal, our per pupil spending will remain flat -- if we're lucky. Another tax initiative, the PTA supported Our Children, Our Future, will be on the November ballot. Our Children, Our Future is the only initiative that actually provides dollars over and above the Prop 98 minimum. This PTA/Molly Munger initiative raises income tax rates on a sliding scale: from 4/10 of 1% on the lowest earners to 2.2% on multi-millionaires. Most people earning under $50,000 won’t pay any more taxes. There is no sales tax. For 12 years, the measure will raise $10 billion a year to invest directly in public schools and early education programs. For the first four years, 30% of the new revenue will help California pay down education-bond debt. For the remaining eight years, all the money goes to education: 85% to K-12 schools and 15% to early childhood education. This is money that does not get lumped into the general fund, but instead goes directly to school sites with local parent, teacher and community input -- mandated. It also mandates strict oversight and accountability measures. Where was the money spent? What were the outcomes? This money **cannot** be used to increase current teacher salaries or benefits and puts a 1% cap on administrative costs. This money **can** be spent to improve students' academic performance, graduation rates, and vocational, career, college and life readiness by funding: 1. instruction in the arts, physical education, science, technology, engineering, mathematics, history, civics, financial literacy, English and foreign languages, and technical, vocational or career education; 2. smaller class sizes; 3. more counselors, librarians, school nurses and other support staff at the school site; 4. extended learning time through longer school days or longer school years, summer school, preschool, after school enrichment programs and tutoring; 5. additional social and academic support for English language learners, low income students and students with special needs; 6. alternative education models that build students' capacity for critical thinking and creativity; and 7. more communication and engagement with parents as true partners with schools in helping all children succeed. California State PTA was very careful about which tax initiative to support. Our Children, Our Future, won -- hands down. [http://www.ourchildrenourfuture2012.com/][1] [1]: http://www.ourchildrenourfuture2012.com/— April 26, 2012 1:53 p.m.
A Better San Diego Talks Tax Proposals
The PTA/Molly Munger initiative is by far the best one for education. $20 billion cut from schools over the last four years, money diverted, money deferred. Enough is enough. Who is going to sustain income taxes and help our state function if we have an uneducated and under educated work force? We will remain in our deficit hole as long as funding for education lags. CA has the largest student to teacher, student to administrator and student to counselor ratio in the COUNTRY. We would need to increase funding to each and every classroom in CA by $60,000 a year just to CATCH UP to the national AVERAGE. The "Our Children Our Future" initiative calls for a broad based income tax on all but the poorest. A median income of $55,000 would be taxed $250 -- you probably spend that on cookie dough, wrapping paper, magazine subscriptions and whatever else the schools are asking their students to peddle these days just to provide the basics. The money will be over and above any Prop 98 minimum and DOES NOT PASS THROUGH SACRAMENTO. It instead goes directly to school districts -- early childhood programs, preschool and K-12, with strict accountability. It cannot be used to raise current teacher salaries, but can be used to hire new teachers to help reduce class sizes. PTA has been advocating for kids - for free -- for 115 years. My vote goes with them and the kids. http://www.ourchildrenourfuture2012.com/— March 24, 2012 8:54 p.m.