Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/65746
TAKING A STAND Budget update: New state shortfalls increase importance of CTA-backed tax initiative CALIFORNIA'S REVENUES appear to be running as much as $3 billion below the estimates used in finalizing the 2011-12 state budget, placing even more importance on voters passing Gov. Jerry Brown's tax initiative in November. The CTA-backed initiative would bring in about $9 billion annually in new revenue and protect public education from auto- matic cuts of $4.9 billion in the 2012-13 budget if the measure doesn't pass. Key financial experts, including state Controller John Chiang and Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, issued reports that find the shortfalls running between $1 billion and $3 billion for the state funding year that ends in June. Schools are already reeling from more than $20 billion in cuts capital were gearing up for the release of the May Revision, Gov. Brown's revised 2012-13 budget proposal. The revision, an annual part of the state budget process, draws As the Educator went to press, CTA advocates in the state on updated information about revenues and expenses. It becomes the basis for the Legislature's efforts to finalize a budget proposal by the June 15 constitutional deadline. State law gives the gover- nor until June 30 to sign the spending plan into law prior to the start of the new fiscal year July 1. KEY BATTLE TO PREVENT FIGHTING FOR RESOURCES Ironically, the release of the May Revision is coming on the fifth anniversary of the publication of a 144-page Stanford study that determined California's schools would need an additional $40 bil- lion annually to be "adequately funded. that are driving California to the bottom of the 50 states in per-pupil spending. Thousands of certificated educators lost their jobs last year, and 20,000 more recently received preliminary layoff notices. ward on school funding during a recent PACE (Policy Analysis for California Education) forum that reviewed the state's progress toward meeting the goals identified by the "Getting Down to Facts" study. Cuts have resulted in widespread teacher layoffs, increases in Experts reported that California was actually moving back- " class sizes, and elimination of a wide array of important educa- tional services. Students have lost access to nurses, librarians and counselors. The ranks of education support professionals have Congratulations Multiple and Single Subject Administrative CTEL Education Counseling School Psychology Special Education: Mild/Moderate Reading and Language Arts Child Life Specialist Liberal Studies Child Development 1950 Third Street, La Verne, CA 91750 laverne.edu 877-GO-TO-ULV degreeinfo@laverne.edu 24 California Educator / May 2012 Masters Educational Management School Counseling School Psychology Special Education Reading Special Emphasis Child Life Child Development Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.) to the California School Superintendent of the Year 2011 and University of La Verne Doctorate in Organizational Leadership Alumna U.S. News & World Report and Forbes Magazine 2011-2012 Dr. Lou Obermeyer