Cuts to Education in Governor's Proposed Budget Plan ~ By, Charity Maness

With a 25.4 million dollar deficit, Governor Brown presented a proposed budget plan during the State of the State address outlining a two part plan that would include cutting spending by $12.5 billion and increased taxes to make up the difference. Brown hopes to have a state wide special election in June with this plan on the ballot.

While many articles in the news state that there will be no budget cuts to K-12, that doesn’t seem to ring true as our own MTUESD is preparing two budgets. One titled “2011/2012 Governors budget proposal with tax extension approved” and the other titled “2011/2012 Governors budget proposal if tax extension fails.”

The possible fiscal ramifications for Mark Twain Elementary School District are outlined as follows. If the proposed tax increase passes MTUESD will see a small drop in ADA (average daily attendance) revenue, equal to the approximate daily dollar amount per student of $19.00, a total reduction in revenue of approximately $13,943 for the 2011/2012 fiscal year. Those figures are for if the tax increase DOES pass. If the tax increase does not pass, MTUESD will see a drop in ADA revenue equal to the approximate daily dollar amount per student of $349.00, a total drop in revenue of approximately $260,783 for the 2011/2012 fiscal year. These numbers come from the two budgets for MTUESD 2011/2012 fiscal year prepared by Debbie Costello, Director of Business Services at MTUESD. The word approximate is used multiple times due to the fact that schools receive monies only if a child is actually in a seat for that given day,monies are not based on the actual enrollment number. Total revenue limit funding (property taxes and State Aid) comprise 66.35% of the general fund revenues in the current year and either 71.17% or 69.73% in 2011/12.  This percentage increase is due to the decreases in federal and other local funds.

The effect will be rippling throughout the California education system, with no form of education left untouched by cuts. As enrollment in the California  University system grows, an estimated 60,000 since 2000, Brown is also proposing to cut $500 million from CSUs and another $500 million from the UCs. UC President Mark Yudof has given the chancellors of UCLA and all other UC campuses six weeks to develop plans for meeting budget-reduction targets.