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Californians can support education without tax increases
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Earlier this year, the governor proclaimed a state of fiscal emergency. Our state budget is estimated to have a deficit of at least $16 billion. Needless to say, a fiscal crisis of this magnitude affects everything we do in the state and can be detrimental to school funding.
Politicians in Sacramento have wrongly argued that the potential cuts to education make it necessary to raise taxes. In a statewide publicity drill, they are attempting to make the case that only an increase in taxes will save education. My liberal colleagues are wrong and California's hard-working taxpayers will not be fooled.
Two important options
Their argument assumes that this crisis has only two possible solutions — cuts to education or increased taxes. But they leave out two important options that will protect education dollars without raising taxes:
1. Eliminate the waste in the budget.
2. Prioritize spending and suspend low-priority expenditures. Truly, Californians can support education without supporting tax increases.
Too much waste in government
Unfortunately, it is not difficult to find waste in our government. A sad example of how easy it is for state bureaucrats to waste tax dollars is how the state manages its fleet of more than 70,000 vehicles. According to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2005 California Performance Review Report, 26 percent of the state-owned vehicles in the fleet could not be located. That amounts to about 18,000 cars — or about $500 million — that the government essentially lost.
When we prioritize the items in our state budget, we can easily identify low-priority expenditures that should be suspended. For example, a 2006 measure attempted to suspend expenditures for artwork. This included $1.3 million in art for a new Caltrans building, $1.7 million to restore 13 freeway murals in Los Angeles, $2.8 million for Sacramento's East End Complex, along with many others. Although these individual numbers do not seem like much, they are nonessential expenditures that must not be prioritized ahead of education spending.
Some argue that eliminating fraud, waste and abuse is too idealistic and it is just part of government. When we are willing to turn a blind eye to bad practice and irresponsible budget management, then we have a much bigger problem at hand. And, it is essential programs, such as education, public safety and foster care, that end up being harmed in the long run.
Additionally, we legislators need to ensure we are spending your money as efficiently as possible. That is why I support a package of bills seeking to protect education dollars through education reform. These measures were introduced based on the belief that parents and local teachers know better than bureaucrats and politicians in Sacramento how to teach our kids.
For example, there is Assembly Bill 2890 that would increase flexibility in school spending by reducing the number of categorical block-grant funds from 62 to just seven, which represent more than 30 percent of education funding in the state. This reduction will allow schools to better use these funds to meet their specific needs.
I also support Assembly Bills 2832 and 19xxx, which would provide school districts the discretion to spend school maintenance funds on other critical needs. This measure will protect classroom funding during these difficult budget times.
Raising taxes not the answer
Sacramento legislators have the habit of granting money to schools with strings attached that often make it unworkable for local educators to address the specific needs of our community. During this tough budget time, these reform measures give schools the ability to invest more in the classroom.
My liberal colleagues seem content with raising taxes on Californians while completely ignoring the inefficiencies that perennially drain our state funds. I, for one, cannot in good conscience raise taxes on hard-working taxpayers of this state when there are better ways to resolve this financial crisis.
Eliminating waste in our state budget and approving genuine education-reform measures will go further to protect our children's education than quick-fix tax hikes year after year. The sooner legislators in Sacramento acknowledge this reality, the quicker we will be able to solve our budget problem and ensure a stable source of funding for education.
— Audra Strickland, R-Moorpark, represents the 37th Assembly District, which includes Camarillo, Fillmore, Los Angeles, Moorpark, Ojai, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks.
Posted by bombero42 on April 20, 2008 at 7:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can always count on idiotic drivel from Strickland. The schools are facing a 5 billion dollar deficit, and she mentions art projects that equal a tenth of a percent of that deficit.
I'm sure she voted for Arnold in the recall. Remember that fiasco? He was going to end waste and fraud. How many times are the gullible voters going to fall for that line?
Posted by Oranges on April 20, 2008 at 9:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Her support of AB2832 and 19XXX, allowing maintenance funds to be put in the general fund, shows how little she knows about the capitol needs of a school district.
Ongoing maintenance is critical for safety and security. These dollars must be clearly identified or schools will fall into dis-repair. Each district has it's own set of wacko's that would spend this money on some idea that will have long term needs with one time money.
Posted by MakingWaves on April 20, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ms. Strickland, none of the things you have suggested here will add up to the $4.8 billion that our schools need to cut from their budgets.
And you know this.
The problem is, Ms. Strickland, you signed Grover Norquist's "No Tax Pledge." To go back on it now and vote to reduce a few special interest tax credits would be political suicide for you. But you have to wonder why you have more allegiances to Norquist and other special interests than you do to our children.
Please listen to what independent Legislative Analyst Elizabeth Hill is advocating. Her approach selects tax credits or exemptions for reduction or elimination because they are not achieving their stated purposes or are of lower priority. Her plan makes no broad-based tax rate increases.
While you and your staff are out hunting for lost cars, our teachers who have recently been given pink slips are being recruited by other states. They have to feed their families. So, by drawing your line in the sand and protecting special interest tax credits, you are holding up our budget and putting the schools in a terrible bind. You see, they can't tell those teachers they have their jobs back until a vote is actually taken.
Do the right thing by our children Ms. Strickland. Remember that a true education supporter, Ferial Masry, is waiting in the wings and would like to have your job.
Posted by smithjc on April 20, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
all of the waste must be cut, first and foremost within the schools themselves. districts, from the k-12 on up through, and especially, colleges continue to expand their "management" creating more and more "management" positions with high salaries and benefit packages, while teaching and support positions go wanting.
Posted by sslocal on April 20, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All of you have failed in your reading comprehension. She is trying to keep our schools funded. She cites "examples" above, not all of the problems. You are letting your dislike of republicans get to you.
I, for one, do not want my taxes increased. I want our representatives to get their collective act together and stop the waste so that we have money for the things we need. Allowing them to increase taxes because they have no fiscal discipline is stupid to say the least.
Use your heads people. Don't allow the State to spend money willy nilly without accountability.
Posted by Oranges on April 20, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If all she ever does is give examples then she is useless as a ramora sucking off the public trough. The real point of this dribble is to keep the Strickland name out there for Tony. The other leach.
Before you get your hackles up, I am a republican.
Posted by Poppa on April 21, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Typical right wing nut job babble from Strickland/Osborn/Bush. She wants to rob Peter to pay Paul. Of course there is not enough money to pay for schools because the Strickland's have made sure their big money special interests friends don't pay any taxes. The Strickland's hate public education, they have never worked real jobs and the taxpayers have funded their lavish lifestyle.
Posted by nplocal on April 22, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
To be completely honest I am actually kind of suprised that teacher unions have not been making a bigger of these budget cuts to the media. I think the education budget cuts are a big problem for our children. Yes parents can do their part but the state politicians are more likely to listen to parents if they are backed by the unions.
If California were it's own country it would be one of the top 10 richest countries in the world, yet if these education budget cuts go through we will be 50th in the nation for educational spending.
Within the next month many of our children in grades 3-11 will be taking the S.T.A.R. test. In addition high school students need to take the high school exit exam. If there is a high school exit exam then why is the S.T.A.R test also given to high school students.....isn't that just redundant??? How much money is spent each year on these state given exams, that I sadly would say most students don't really try on anyway. How much does it cost to give this test to one student? Consider the printing of the test booklets, test answer sheets, shipping of the tests to the school and then back to be graded, and the actual grading of the tests. Now I am not claiming to know the exact figure but I would guess somewhere between $25 - $45 per student. Now lets take the lower number of that estimate and multiply it by howe many students take the test. Lets just say we have 5 million students who take the S.T.A.R. test annually. That would be $125million dollars each year budgeted towards, and lets be really honest, a test that most students do not take seriously.....not to mention that it is a redundant test since all students need to also take the California High School Exit Exam.
The State is not supporting our children so maybe we shouldn't support the state on S.T.A.R. testing. This can't be promoted by school employees but it can be promoted by parents. What if parents boycotted the S.T.A.R. testing and did not allow their children to take the test. I know this may seem like a radical idea to some, but things have to get done to show more of the public what is happening to our education system and children.
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