Voting is a right not a privilege. Voting to support Proposition 30 is the right to support education through increasing the State’s General Fund. The Sales tax and the Personal Income tax are the primary sources of revenue for the state General Fund. Education is the primary resource for reaching one's dreams. Supporting Proposition 30 is supporting the dreams of our youth.
As a former twenty-year veteran of the Cabrillo College Governing Board I support Proposition 30 and am very concerned if it does not pass. Let’s first look at what Proposition 30 does. Proposition 30:
- Increases sales tax rate by one-quarter cent for every dollar for four years.
- Increases personal income tax rates on annual earnings over $250,00 for seven years.
These new taxes will raise approximately $6 billion in additional annual state revenues from 2012-13 through 2016-17, with smaller amounts in 2017-18 and 2018-19. It will allocate temporary tax revenues; 89% to K-12 schools and 11% to community colleges. We all know how our children and young adults have been hurt with all the budget cuts to our educational systems in the past few years. What will happen if Proposition 30 does not pass?
Specific to Cabrillo College there will be a drastic impact on its students. Failure of Proposition 30 would lead to an automatic cut of $3,540,000 on January 1, 2013 to Cabrillo College. Cabrillo has already had to cut millions and for its 2012-13 budget it has had to go to its reserves and use $3,142,914 to balance its budget; very little remains in its Reserve. In addition, student fees have risen to $46 per unit compared to $26 per unit in 2010. On January 1st the State will require that Cabrillo reduce courses for the equivalent of 750 full-time equivalent students, which will eliminate 1,640 students (including part-time students). Instead of slashing funding for 780 full-time equivalent students Proposition 30 would provide new funding for Cabrillo to offer courses for an additional 110 full-time equivalent students or 240 students. The additional funding will also help with programs, student services, counseling, faculty, and staff.
Many in Santa Cruz County have looked to Cabrillo College to help them with their dreams. It could have been to begin their journey to transfer to a university. It could have been to obtain a certificate to improve their works skills. Or it could have been to learn English. Nonetheless, Cabrillo has served our community well. Now it’s our turn to serve Cabrillo. We must vote Yes on Proposition 30.
