Blog: How Your Stake in Property Values is Linked to Quality Education

Eagle Rock is a special place—and I am not just talking about property value here. Think about it—how many times a week do you stop to say hello to someone you don’t know or have a conversation while taking a walk through the neighborhood?

This happens to me all the time, and even after three years of living in ER, it never fails to amaze and please. I am raising my daughters in a true community.  Without a doubt, the cornerstone of my community experience is our local public school, Dahlia Heights. 

I have seen a lot of discussion on the Patch lately about Propositions 30 and 38, most of it unfortunately very negative and misleading. As a working mom and taxpayer, I can certainly empathize, but please know that money that gets to Dahlia via these propositions will be spent in a thoughtful and inclusive way.  Voices are heard and opinions are shared. This has led to Dahlia being chosen as a California Distinguished School, which, in turn leads to higher property values and a better overall community.

I have included a short summary outlining the pros of the propositions below, but here are a few of the more compelling reasons:

Fact: California now ranks 47th in the nation in per student spending (think about that one—even Mississippi outranks our state).

Both of these propositions call for temporary tax increases for education.

Prop 30 is an increase only for the most wealthy (individuals earning over $250,000)

New education dollars generated by Prop 38 go straight to local schools, and must be used to restore cuts.

Prop. 30 bars the use of funds for administrative costs. Local school boards decide in public meetings and subject to audit how funds are spent.

The most important reason to vote for these propositions is that they make it possible for us to continue to build upon our success, move forward, and make our little patch of L.A. a great place to live. Without the passage of Prop. 30, Dahlia Heights and all Eagle Rock schools will close three weeks early this year. The small increase in sales tax is outweighed by the benefits to our community whether you have children or not, but working parents must also consider the cost of summer camp or childcare for an additional three weeks! 

I am voting for both Prop. 30 and 38 and hope you will, too. If both pass (i.e, receive 55-percent voter approval), only the one with the greatest support will take effect—you will not be taxed twice! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Dahlia desperately needs the revenue that will be generated by your endorsement of Proposition 30 and/or 38. 

Summary of Ballot Measures for Education Funding:

Prop 30: Schools-Local Public Safety Protection Act (Gov's Tax, CTA, UTLA endorsed)

Summary:
•  Increases personal income tax rates temporarily on individuals earning over $250,000 (Up to 3 percent increases in personal income tax for high-income earners who make more than $250,000 individually not per family) for seven years and increases sales tax by ¼ cent for four years.
•  Tax revenue allocation to education:  89 percent to K-12 schools and 11 percent to community colleges.
•  Bars use of funds for administrative costs, local school boards decide how revenue spent.

Impact:
•  Passage prevents 15 additional furlough days for teachers/staff and much shorter school year.  
•  Revenue generated:  $2.9 billion increase this first year for education and 6.8 percent total.
•  Revenue can be used for education and to address state's budgetary problem by paying for certain other spending commitments (for example, funding for Public Safety Realignment—sending non-violent offenders from state prisons to county jails to reduce cost of housing each offender per year)

Prop 38  “Our Children, Our Future” (The Munger Initiative, Calif. PTA endorsed)

Summary:

• Increases income tax rates temporarily for people earning over $7300 on sliding scale from .4 percent for lowest earners to 2.2 percent for those who earn $2.5 million.
• First 4 years 60 percent of revenues go to K-12 and 30 percent to repaying state debt with 10 percent to early childhood.  After that 85 percent to K-12, 15 percent to early childhood programs.

Impact:

•  Provides funds directly to schools on per-pupil basis with local control, audits and public input. Money may be used for restoration of cut programs and laid-off teachers, materials, supplemental personnel, not for increases in salary or benefits for current employees.
•  Passage cannot prevent mid-year cuts to K-12 this year.
•  2012-13 revenue increase would be about $5 - $6 billion
•  Starting in 2013-14, education funding of $10-$11 billion per year, increasing over time.