There are 54 days left until voters decide the fate of public schools in California.
Craig Wheaton, Superintendent of Visalia Unified School District says, "We're in desperate times, we're in no question at a point where employees, kids, programs are in jeopardy if Prop 30 or 38, one or the other doesn't pass."
Prop 30 is a measure supported by Governor Brown, aimed at generating billions of dollars. It would raise sales tax by a quarter of a cent for the next four years. It would also increase income taxes for people making more than $250,000 a year for the next seven years.
Prop 38 is also expected to generate billions of dollars. The difference from Prop 30 however, is income taxes for most people would increase for an additional five years.
Tuesday night, the Visalia Unified School District endorsed both propositions.
"It's not going to really give us more money, it's going to prevent cuts to programs and cuts to our school district," says Superintendent Wheaton.
Without the approval of either Prop 30 or Prop 38, the district would lose nearly $12 million in funding, and be forced to make more tough decisions.
Wheaton says,"Anything outside of a teacher and a classroom would be on the list. Everything from transportation to activities to athletics to extra-curricular activities, music, band, drama."
If passed, Prop 30 would provide an extra $17.5 million to the Fresno Unified School District.
Deputy Superintendent of Fresno Unified, Ruth Quinto, says, "We will be able to program those new resources and vastly change our education program starting on November 7th."
The biggest chunk of funding would go toward early education. The district also wants to enhance it's music program and provide more class time to middle school students. But officials remain cautiously optimistic.
Quinto says, "The consequences of this not passing immediately are that we will begin our discussions about making an additional $11.7 million reductions starting the next fiscal school year."
Prop 30 and 38 are conflicting measures, so if both of them pass, the one with the most "yes" votes will prevail and go into affect.
The Fresno Unified School has broken down it's complete spending plan should Prop 30 pass. They will present it at tonight's board meeting. The plans should be finalized September 26th.
TXT 24
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