The Culver City Council of PTAs and United Parents of Culver City have joined together to get out the vote through Facebook. If you’re on Facebook, you can go to www.facebook.com/upccpac, click on the “Like” button and alert your Facebook friends that you are supporting two propositions on this year’s ballot that are really important for funding our public schools— Props. 38 and 30.
Prop. 38 is backed by the California State PTA. It uses a fair share, sliding-scale income tax to increase funding for our schools by over $10 billion each year for 12 years— beyond what the state is already legally obligated to pay, and providing our students with long term benefits. During Prop. 38’s first four years, 30 percent of the money raised would be used to pay off existing state school bonds, thereby substantially reducing our state budget shortfall. The rest of the money will go straight to every public school and school district in California so that we can start restoring the cuts our teachers and students have been forced to endure. Prop. 38 would mean over $6,000,000 for our Culver City schools in its first year, growing to more than $14 million over its 12-year duration. Decisions on how to spend the money would be made locally, at the school site and at district levels with community input.
Prop. 30, uses a sales tax increase to start the money flowing quickly. That tax plus an income tax on the wealthiest among us would go a long way toward bridging our state budget deficit. It wouldn’t add new money to the schools, but it would prevent additional, even more damaging, cuts.
You may prefer one measure or the other, but if we split the vote of people willing to pay more in order to fully fund public education, it’s likely to mean that neither measure will pass, and our kids will be hit hard. So please don’t split the vote. Instead, I ask you to vote for both Prop. 30 and Prop. 38. Our School Board, United Parents of Culver City and the Culver City Education Foundation endorse both propositions. Remember, if both pass, only the one with more votes will become law.
Here in Culver City, we know that better schools mean lower crime rates and higher property values. We know that great schools produce a high quality workforce and a stronger economy. Most of all, we know that our kids are worth it— worth every penny. Let’s step up and take a stand for our kids. Let’s get out the vote on Nov. 6.
Ms. Reichel, a parent and school community activist, may be contacted at jkr5@sbcglobal.net
