Op- Ed Article #1- Prop 30

http://www.swrnn.com/2012/08/21/brown-proposition-30-failure-would-result-in-devastating-cuts-to-education/

I agree, our schools have been and will continue to devastated with cut backs.  Especially if Prop. 30 doesn't pass.  As it is now my ten year old daughters school requests that all parents purchase the class room supplies for the school year.  In addition, the class sizes have increases dramatically over the last four years.
Every year there are teachers, librarians and administrative job holders given pink slips with no promise to return to their jobs the following school year.

The economic funding structure for California schools is unfortunate.  As I understand, the money comes directly from real estate assessment property taxes, paid by all property owners in California.  Property owners pay a percentage of the properties total value.  Which was fine until the economic down-turn, when all property values drastically decreased.  Tax assessors state wide were forced to reduce tax rates to property owners, resulting in less revenue for our public schools.  I think our state definitely needs to restructure where and how funding is generated for our public schools in California.

If the proposition 30 passes the state would increase personal income taxes on high-income taxpayers for seven years and sales taxes for four years. The new tax revenues would be available to fund programs in the state budget.  Prop 30 would increase the sales tax rate by one-quarter cent from 2013-2016.  It would also increase the maximum 9.3% PIT rate in stages up to 12.3% (on incomes of $500,000 for single filers, $1,000,000 for joint filers) for calendar years 2012-2018. The new revenues would provide generally unrestricted K-14 educational funding, and also benefit the General Fund.

If the proposition does not pass the state would not increase personal income taxes or sales taxes. State spending reductions, primarily to education programs, would take effect in 2012-13. Also if Prop 30 fails, the 2012-13 budget plan requires that the state’s spending be reduced by $6 billion, almost all in K-14 education and public universities. These reductions could result in shorter instructional years and lower community college enrollment.

When it comes to Prop 30, I like the idea of a the additional sales tax.  Especially because the taxes would be temporary and will include everyone in the state.  Whether they pay income tax or not.  I believe there are many people in this state that do not pay income tax for one reason or another and should be taxed just the same.  It is a shame that people can live, work have kids in our schools, collect state health benefits and still not pay income tax.  But I guess that's a whole different issue.