So since it came out last week, I have understood that there is a wrinkle in the Governor's proposed $7 Billion tax initiative for November 2012. While the promise is that all of this $7 Billion will go to schools (and we would like that), the reality is that there is lots of internal shifting and the best you could anticipate actually receiving is $2 Billion. Further, it looks to me that the real "winner" in this scenario is the state that is shifting money and responsibilities.
As you can tell, I am having trouble explaining this -- however, I did find a good and credible explanation that I will share with you. It is found at the Thoughts on Public Education blog. Or here is the web address: http://toped.svefoundation.org/2011/12/15/jerry-browns-cagily-worded-initiative/
On another more optimistic note, my best wishes to you and yours for this Holiday Season.
You are correct that the state will make out. Mr. Brown has been using this shell game from the start. He shifted the cost of prisoners to the counties and bumped up their budgets pennies on the dollar. He is doing the same thing here.
ReplyDeleteThe state may not be able to file for BK protection, but the local municipalities can. Thus, shifting the costs down to the lower levels only makes sense.
The question becomes how do we streamline RUSD's form and function to help cut costs without cutting services?