The Board voted to support Propositions 30, the "Schools & Local Public Safety Protection Act" and Proposition 38, "Our Children Our Future: Local Schools and Early Education Investment Act" during their September 11 meeting.
Propositions 30, also known as "Jerry Brown's Tax Increase" is supported by the California Teacher's Association. According to Governor Jerry Brown's website,"Proposition 30 will protect school and safety funding and help address the state's chronic budget mess." The site says it is a "temporary" personal tax hike for "couples with incomes over $500,000 a year" which will help avoid further cuts to eduction.
Ballotpedia says the proposition "increases taxes on earnings over $250,000 for seven years and sales taxes by a quarter cent for four years, to fund schools. Guarantees public safety realignment funding. Fiscal Impact: Increased state tax revenues through 2018–19, averaging about six billion annually over the next few years. Revenues available for funding state budget. In 2012–13, planned spending reductions, primarily to education programs, would not occur."
Proposition 38, a state income tax increase, could raise "raise 10 to 11 billion annually in new revenue through a sliding scale income tax increase that varies with taxpayers' ability to pay" according to a Pleasanton Unified document. The measure is backed by Molly Munger and supported by the California State PTA. Ballotpedia says of Prop 38 that the "Governor and Legislature are prohibited from using the money."
Parvin Ahmadi, Superintendent of the Pleasanton Unified School District wrote:
"I hope that those who did not watch our board meeting have an opportunity to check out the powerpoint presentation on Proposition 30 and 38 so that they can make an informed decision in November. School districts will certainly be impacted by the results. Our Governing Board approved the two resolutions supporting both Propositions, as has California School Boards Association."
During the school board meeting, Debi Covello of Pleasanton Partners In Education on the Giving Fund reported that PPIE collected $170,385
The next meeting of the Pleasanton Board of Trustees is September 25.
What do you think about the two propositions backed by the school board? Tell us in the comments section below.
