LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – State and local officials are warning that Lake County’s schools and schools across the rest of the state are potentially facing huge cuts if proposed tax initiatives don’t pass this fall.
Proposition 30, supported by Gov. Jerry Brown, and Proposition 38, advocated by philanthropist Molly Munger, are on the November ballot. The initiative that gets the most votes will become law.
Each initiative offers a different approach to providing funds for California’s schools, as Lake County News outlined in an article last week, which can be read here: http://bit.ly/Sc4SiV .
Lake County Superintendent Wally Holbrook told Lake County News that local schools are facing millions of dollars in state cuts if some new revenue source isn’t established. In addition, they are facing loss of federal funds as a result of sequestration.
Both initiatives have passionate supporters and opponents. As for tax opponents, groups like No on 30 say the proposition isn’t true reform and won’t help schools.
Gov. Brown has warned that schools will be hit by the trigger cuts if Proposition 30 doesn’t pass. No on 30 said school funding actually is set to increase by $1.2 billion in the 2012-13 school year, but California Budget Fact Check and the California Budget Project both point out that schools are indeed set to get hit without a successful initiative.
An analysis by the Legislative Analyst’s Office said anticipated reductions include $4.8 billion in midyear trigger cuts that would hit public schools; in addition, $550 million would be cut from the California Community Colleges system, $250 million from the California State University system and $250 million from the University of California.
According to Holbrook – who has formally endorsed Proposition 30 – with no other funding alternative, schools will face a new, deep round of cuts.
In the current fiscal year, local schools already witnessed cuts totaling $13.7 million, according to countywide data he provided.
Potential cuts for all of the county’s districts from the state total approximately $4,027,488 if the tax initiatives fail, Holbrook said.
Kelseyville Unified would lose $756,451; Konocti Unified, $1,291,902; Lakeport Unified, $651,560; Middletown Unified, $703,957; Lucerne Elementary School District, $89,147; Upper Lake Elementary School District, $204,357; Upper Lake High School District, $170,415; Lake County International Charter School, $17,055; and Lake County Office of Education, $142,642.
The districts are looking at another $769,390 in federal sequestration cuts, Holbrook said. Those cuts, as well as cuts across many other federal programs, are set to hit this coming January.
A July report from the American Association of School Administrators explained that sequestration “was designed as a consequence” for the federal government. However, it goes on to add, “The true impact of sequestration will ultimately be felt by individuals at the local level.”
A chart showing the full extent of the anticipated cuts, provided by Holbrook, can be found below.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
102912 Lake County Schools Anticipated Cuts