February 13 Superintendents Forum

At the LTCC Leg Team's next meeting on February 13th, come hear what the superintendents from Acalanes, Lafayette, and Orinda school districts have to say about the state of current funding and academic programs in those communities. Participate in an interactive dialog with your administrators and compare notes about our districts' shared priorities. All parents and interested citizens welcome!

Tuesday, February 13, 2007 9:00-10:30 am
Lafayette District Office, 2377 School St., Lafayette

The Governor’s 2007-2008 Budget for Schools

In January, the Governor’s office released its proposed State budget for Fiscal Year 2007-08, proposing total expenditures of $103.1 billion, including a reserve of $2.1 billion. Of that total, proposed spending for K-14 education, pursuant to Proposition 98 is $54.8 billion (see "What’s Proposition 98?" in the May 2005 GET SMART.) This budget proposal represents a modest 3.3% increase from 2006-07, representing few program expansions. All schools, including ours, would receive funding to cover cost-of-living increases. Otherwise, the Governor is targeting most new spending on improvements for low-performing schools and in low- income communities. Here are key items that would receive this additional funding:

• $2.4 billion, full funding of K-14 Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs)
• $269 million for child care services
• $268 million to reduce class size in grades 4-12 in low-performing schools
• $252 million in one-time expenditures, much targeted for low-performing schools and low income areas (emergency facility repairs, lease costs for charter schools, teacher block grants), and $10 million to establish recruitment programs to bring retiring professionals into teaching
• $33.2 million for community college student fee reductions

Something to keep in mind: Remember, Proposition 98 expenditures in one year set the funding benchmark for the following year. The Governor’s 2007-8 budget proposal includes a number of internal transfers between different State funding programs. In the case of Prop 98, the Governor has proposed transferring $627 million in Prop 98 funds to a special transportation fund to pay for home-to-school transportation. If this transfer is approved, the benchmark for next year’s Prop 98 funding requirements would be $627 million lower than if those transportation services were instead paid this year directly out of Prop 98. (The CA State Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) Budget Report reviews the Governor's budget proposal.)

Bond Funding for School Facilities

In addition to Prop 98 funding, the Governor’s budget proposes $6.9 billion of State bond monies approved by California voters to improve school facilities. Of this $6.9 billion, $3.1 billion would come from Prop 1D School Facilities Bond funds approved in 2006, with the remainder coming from school bonds previously approved in 2002 and 2004. Prop 1D permits $7.3 billion in bonds for new K-12 school construction and modernization. Over $7 billion is left over for schools from prior year school facility bond funds. A portion of the bond funds are set aside to relieve overcrowded schools. Alameda County is in the top tier for school over crowding, with Contra Costa County in the second tier.

While voters have approved bond funds for the State’s most pressing infrastructure needs, including schools, the LAO Bond Report stresses the importance of clearly defined spending criteria and oversight by the State Legislature.

The LAO also cautions that the Governor’s proposal is based on optimistic assumptions that dictate the need for a back-up plan if State revenues fall below projections. And the LAO continues to point out the “structural” budget challenges, where the Governor and Legislature need to pay attention to how they meet long-term bond financing obligations, while preserving enough flexibility and discretion in annual budgeting to respond to the State’s new needs as they emerge.

Education Advocacy Day 2007!

Even at current funding levels, there are still important questions about how to achieve the highest quality education benefit for the dollars spent. Blue ribbon panels are working to produce recommendations on how to achieve this goal. But when will this work be completed and how will our Governor and elected Legislative Representatives take action?

Come to Education Advocacy Day 2007.

This forum will enable our school parent communities to discuss with our elected representatives and education experts what kinds of education reforms are being considered, and when. Bus transportation and lunch are included. With our numbers and voices, this annual event keeps public education issues front and center in the eye of the State Legislature. We hope you will join in this true grass- roots showing of the importance of our public schools.