School Funding Declines In Governor’s Budget (CA)

January 11, 2011

Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposes less money for kindergarten-through-12th-grade education, and the spending plan could become more dire if voters don’t approve an extension of existing taxes.

Brown proposes spending $63.8 billion for K-12 schools next year, down $2.6 billion from this year’s budget, with much of the difference coming from the loss of federal stimulus money. The governor said state funding of schools is "generally even" next year compared with this year because "Schools have borne the brunt of (past) spending reductions."

However, some $2 billion of the school money would disappear if voters do not approve an extension of existing taxes in a ballot measure this summer.

The reduction in the education budget alarmed Marty Hittelman, president of the California Federation of Teachers.

"The proposed state budget continues to threaten the future of California by reducing our investment in public education and the students who will lead our state in the coming years," Hittelman said, adding that the proposed new cuts in education would come on top of $18 billion in school-funding decreases over the last three years.