Governor borrows funds from education
Patricia Smith
Issue date: 2/10/05 Section: News
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Despite California's optimistic economic future, education has been short-changed again. Under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposal the re-payment of $2.3 billion owed to schools under Proposition 98 will be withheld, according to educators.
Last year, Schwarzenegger borrowed the money under Proposition 98 in order to pay part of the state's debt, with the agreement that he would pay it back, said Dale Martin, California Teachers Association communication consultant.
"He made a deal with schools, and then he reneged on his end of the agreement. and has left schools to deal with the deficit," Martin said.
For the California Community College system, the $2.3 billion withheld translates to a $200 million shortfall in funding, said Francisco Rodriguez, president of Cosumnes River College.
"The Los Rios Community College District receives about 4 percent of the state's office's share and we could be looking at $8 million fewer coming into the district-and that is a matter of great concern," Rodriguez said.
Voters approved Proposition 98 in 1988. It requires 43 percent of the state general fund to be made available for public schools, said Robert Turnage, vice chancellor for fiscal policy of California community colleges.
Under current law, the governor or the legislature can suspend the minimum amount of money from Proposition 98, but if that happened the money has to be paid back, Turnage said.
"Yet he hasn't given the money back and from looks of it he doesn't plan too," said Martin.
Schwarzenegger's actions are worrisome to the education community because they think the borrowing might become a common thing, Turnage said.
Turnage points out that in the last 17 years the proposition has been in place this is the first time the legislature, has suspended any money by the governor's request.
Schwarzenegger had also asked in his proposal for a constitutional amendment that would no longer make it possible for the legislature to suspend Proposition 98 funds, Turnage said.
Last year, Schwarzenegger borrowed the money under Proposition 98 in order to pay part of the state's debt, with the agreement that he would pay it back, said Dale Martin, California Teachers Association communication consultant.
"He made a deal with schools, and then he reneged on his end of the agreement. and has left schools to deal with the deficit," Martin said.
For the California Community College system, the $2.3 billion withheld translates to a $200 million shortfall in funding, said Francisco Rodriguez, president of Cosumnes River College.
"The Los Rios Community College District receives about 4 percent of the state's office's share and we could be looking at $8 million fewer coming into the district-and that is a matter of great concern," Rodriguez said.
Voters approved Proposition 98 in 1988. It requires 43 percent of the state general fund to be made available for public schools, said Robert Turnage, vice chancellor for fiscal policy of California community colleges.
Under current law, the governor or the legislature can suspend the minimum amount of money from Proposition 98, but if that happened the money has to be paid back, Turnage said.
"Yet he hasn't given the money back and from looks of it he doesn't plan too," said Martin.
Schwarzenegger's actions are worrisome to the education community because they think the borrowing might become a common thing, Turnage said.
Turnage points out that in the last 17 years the proposition has been in place this is the first time the legislature, has suspended any money by the governor's request.
Schwarzenegger had also asked in his proposal for a constitutional amendment that would no longer make it possible for the legislature to suspend Proposition 98 funds, Turnage said.