Important Information for Voters about
Propositions 30 and 38 and Measures G and E
Assembled by the ECHS PTSA for the ECHS community, October 2012
MEASURE G provides local funding for WCCUSD schools by renewing local educational funding for the next five years. All funding will stay here in our community and can’t be taken by the State for any reason. An independent citizen oversight committee will review all expenditures to ensure they are spent correctly. No funds raised from Measure G will be used for administrator salaries. Seniors are exempt from paying this tax.
Measure G does not increase taxes – it just continues the current local educational funding to maintain programs in your local schools. Without Measure G, the district will be forced to make significant cuts to critical programs that our students can’t afford. If neither California Proposition 30 nor 38 pass, Measure G would somewhat shield WCCUSD schools from the full impact of the cuts that will be triggered.
MEASURE E provides critical funding to replace or upgrade school facilities in the WCCUSD, authorizing $360 million in bonds. The upgrade of these last facilities completes the District’s effort to make all essential buildings safe for children.
PROPOSITIONS 30 and 38: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the California School Boards Association, the League of Women Voters, EdFund West, the California Teachers Association and California Federation of Teachers are among those who have endorsed both Prop 30 and Prop 38. According to Superintendent Torlakson, “Both measures are bold and timely and needed to deal with the crisis in our schools. I believe splitting the ‘yes’ vote could have negative consequences. … You could get two measures that end up with 48 percent, and neither passing.“ Further, Torlakson believes the Legislature and school districts would change their trigger-cut arrangements if Proposition 38 passes. “If there is a pot of money generated outside of the budget deal, it still addresses priorities the governor and Legislature say they care about. So I think the Legislature would find a way to bridge the budget gap knowing the money is coming in.”
NOTE: School districts were directed to draft their budgets assuming Prop 30 will pass. If Proposition 30 fails, it is not clear how well WCCUSD will be able to support our local schools even if Measure G passes without wiping out the District’s emergency funds.
For more information about Propositions 30 and 38 and Measures G and E:
EdSource has an excellent infographic comparing Prop 30 and 38 at http://www.edsource.org/infographic-initiatives.html
The Kensington Hilltop PTA Legislative Committee has created a Parents’ Guide to the November 6, 2012 Elections: http://goportola.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/parents-
Opinion piece in SFGATE by Brice Harris, incoming Chancellor of California Community Colleges: California community colleges need Prop. 30
Opinion piece in SFGATE by economist Kathleen Pender: Props. 30, 38 impact on voters’ wallets
Superintendent Bruce Harter’s October message on WCCUSD website about Measures G and E: http://www.wccusd.net/cms/lib03/CA01001466/Centricity/domain/77/messages/2012-2013/What%20our%20Students%20Deserve%2010-2012.pdf
League of Women Voters Smartvoter.org :
Measure G: Measure G: http://www.smartvoter.org/2012/11/06/ca/cc/meas/G/
Measure E: http://www.smartvoter.org/2012/11/06/ca/cc/meas/E/
Measure G website: http://www.protectwestcountyschools.com/about-measure-g/
This is a link to a letter in the El Cerrito Patch about Measure G from the Presidents of all the EC and Kensington PTAs:.
http://elcerrito.patch.com/articles/letter-5799280f