Some of California Community Colleges’ top officials held a media briefing on Sept. 26. They discussed statewide cutbacks to education spending causing measurable enrollment drops. They also spoke about the immediate impacts resulting from the passage or failure of Propositions 30 and 38, both ballot measures that will fund education in different ways. In addition, De Anza college leaders added perspective on how these budget issues affect De Anza College students.
Interim Chancellor Eric Skinner noted that three years of budget cuts to California Community Colleges have resulted in $809 million cuts from community colleges. This 12 percent reduction in the operating budget of California Community Colleges has largely translated to fewer courses being offered by campuses across the state at a time of high demand. “When their funding is cut, they have to reduce the number of course sections,” said Skinner. “What that’s translated into for the system is that enrollment in California Community Colleges has dropped by 480,000 students since 2008 levels,” he added. Skinner also believes that the mismatch between resources and demand is the biggest social issue facing education today.
Additionally, Vice Chancellor of fiscal policy Dan Troy said “It’s very important for colleges to understand what’s ahead of us on the November ballot.” Troy added, “If Proposition 30 fails, it will have a very devastating effect on the services that community colleges can provide to students. They will be hit with a midyear trigger cut of $338 million dollars, in addition to losing $210 million in new money. Troy also discussed information on Proposition 38, another ballot initiative that also raises taxes for education funding. “I think it’s very important to understand, that Prop. 38 does not provide any funding for community colleges. That goes only to K-12 funding and for early childhood education,” he said. Troy additionally discussed the consequences to community colleges if both propositions pass. “Only one or the other can prevail. So if both Prop 30 and Prop 38 poll over 50 percent, the initiative that receives more votes will prevail. Prop 38 does not help our budget, I thought that was something students should know,” he said.
A day after the media briefing, De Anza Academic Senate President Karen Chow and De Anza Associated Study Body Chair of Administration Calvin Ching elaborated on the impact that Prop. 30 will have on taxpayers in general. Chow said “If Prop 30 were to pass, only the highest earners, meaning couples earning more than $500,000 per year, would pay more income tax, and the sales tax rate would actually be lower than it was last year.” “All of these taxes are temporary and only voter approval could change them.”
Both Chow and Ching stated that Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s budget would face a deficit increase to $12 million from $5.7 million if Prop. 30 were to fail in November.
For more information on Prop 30 contact Karen Chow at [email protected]
