Archive for category State PTA Communications

PROPOSITION 1A – SUPPORT
Restores education funding, temporarily increases state revenues, and establishes a “rainy day” stabilization fund

PROPOSITION 1B – SUPPORT
Education funding repayment plan

PROPOSITION 1C – SUPPORT
Modernization of the Lottery

PROPOSITION 1D – OPPOSE
First 5/Children’s Services Funding

PROPOSITION 1E – SUPPORT
Mental health services funding

PROPOSITION 1F – NO POSITION
Legislative pay increases

Based on the authority contained in our statewide resolutions and position statements, the California State PTA, representing nearly 1 million volunteer members, has taken positions on five of the six measures that will appear on the May 19 statewide ballot.

Each of these measures is intended to implement components of the state budget agreement adopted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in late February.

While we do not feel these measures adequately address the need for long-term budget reform in California, we recognize that most of the measures represent important and necessary steps to prevent deeper cuts to education and children’s programs during the state’s current economic crisis.

The California State PTA’s positions are as follows:
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Legislative leaders and the Governor are reportedly close to a deal on the state budget. While leaders have been careful to say there is no formal agreement yet, and no information has been officially released, certain details of the potential deal have emerged. A vote is expected as early as this Friday.

California State PTA released a statement on the emerging details of the plan earlier today.

The latest plan attempts to bring the state budget into balance over the next 17 months through:

• $15.8 billion in total cuts, with more than half of those cuts to education
• $14.3 billion in tax increases
• $10.9 billion in borrowing
• A spending cap on future budgets

As reported, the plan would have to go before voters as part of a package of several initiatives to approve elements such as borrowing future earnings from the state lottery, approving the spending cap, and taking funds from Proposition 10 (tobacco tax for early childhood programs) and Proposition 63 (upper income tax for mental-health programs).

We continue to monitor the status of negotiations in the Capitol closely, and we will provide more information soon about the details of the plan and actions you can take.

For more information about the potential impact of budget cuts to schools on a county-by-county basis, see the latest report issued by the California Budget Project.

Legislative Alerts are produced by the California State PTA. If you wish to receive these alerts, subscribe to the California State PTA mailing list.

California State Budget

Our responsibility to children cannot be cut in bad economic times

Action Needed

Please call or email your state assembly member, state senator and the governor right away and deliver the following messages:

• We must find a balanced approach to the budget crisis that includes sufficient new revenues to protect children and the future of California.
• Support continued funding for programs and services that help ensure that all children can succeed, such as smaller class sizes, arts and physical education, science, counselors, nurses, librarians, and health and social services for children.
• We cannot build a world class public education system by going backwards in funding for education and other children’s services.

Find your legislator’s contact info here and contact the governor here.

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The following information has been reprinted from California State PTA’s December 5, 2008 Legislation Information Alert.

As a new legislative session begins this week, we are increasing our efforts to demand that our legislators act responsibly to reach a solution that does not make further devastating cuts to education and children’s programs.

The stakes could not be higher.

Legislators and the governor must work to address the state’s budget shortfall, which is projected to grow to $27 billion or more over the next 19 months.
Legislative Analyst’s Report
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