Copyright© 2002 by School Services of California, Inc.
Volume 15 For Publication Date: December 20, 2002 No. 25
Assembly Budget
Subcommittee #2 on Education
Listens to Education Community—Don’t Cut My Program
The first legislative hearing to
specifically review the Governor’s mid-year budget cuts to education took
place in a packed Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors’ chamber on
Assembly Member Joe Simitian (D-Palo Alto), chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on School Finance, led discussions on ways to mitigate the impact of the cuts on school agencies and alternatives to the Governor’s proposed across-the-board cut of 3.66%. Subcommittee members Carol Liu (D-La Canada), Wilma Chan (D-Oakland), Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles), and Lynn Daucher (R-Brea) spent more than four hours listening to presentations from the Department of Finance, Legislative Analyst’s Office, Secretary for Education’s Office, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin, and all segments of the education community.
State Superintendent Delaine Eastin made an impassioned speech criticizing the
size of the proposed education cuts, calling them “sinful,” and stating that
the current proposal would financially pull the rug out from under many K-14
districts that have contracts in place that prevent layoffs and few other
options to make cuts with the school year already
half over. She also urged lawmakers to raise taxes to help close the
Budget gap, reminding them how former Republican Governor Pete Wilson and the
Legislature closed a $14 billion shortfall in 1990 by raising the sales tax,
personal income taxes for the wealthy, and vehicle license fees.
Robert Turnage, Vice Chancellor
for Fiscal Policy, spoke on behalf of the community colleges. He told the
committee that community college apportionments were being reduced by $184
million—a 4.8% cut. The community college higher education system serves the
most students (2 million), receive the least amount of revenues per student, but
are faced with the largest percentage reduction by the Administration. Turnage
further made reference to the Administration’s proposed $80 million reduction
to concurrently enrolled student programs. He indicated that if colleges were
conducting inappropriate classes the system would take action. The $80 million
number may not be accurate. Superintendent Eastin also spoke in support of K-12
students enrolling in community college classes.
An estimated 400 people jammed the hearing room during the public comment period, and the Subcommittee heard from more than 90 members of the public, including several school board members, superintendents, and teachers from neighboring school districts. Representatives from community college faculty and students presented a united front, rejecting across-the-board cuts and reminding Subcommittee members that cuts to community colleges will hurt students and limit access.
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