Politics & Government

School Superintendents Push For June Tax Vote

San Juan Unified School District joined other California school districts on the west steps of the Capitol today urging a June tax vote to avoid further budget cuts.

As time runs out for California lawmakers to put tax extensions critical to K-12 education on a June ballot, local school superintendents met in front of the Capitol Monday to press legislators to act soon.

One of the main points superintendents wanted to make was urging Republican lawmakers to accept Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed election on taxes.

If the measure fails to meet the June deadline, San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Pat Jaurequi is concerned what will come next.

Find out what's happening in Fair Oaks-Carmichaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We have already made deep cuts in our current budget, just about $37 million,” Jaurequi said. “And the Board has been very courageous voting on those reductions.”

The reductions in school budgets have already put a stranglehold on school districts across the state, Fresno Unified School District Superintendent Michael Hanson said.

Find out what's happening in Fair Oaks-Carmichaelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“We will spend the ’11-’12 school year decimating, devastating and tearing down programs for students across this entire state,” Hanson said.

When asked about the worst case scenario, “Plan B,” an “all-cuts” budget which would lead to a $4.6 billion reduction in public school funding, Jaurequi said, “If we have to go to Plan B, I’m confident our labor groups will work with us through further concessions.”

Brown will need at least two Republican votes in each house to reach the two-thirds majority necessary to put the taxes on the ballot. Without the taxes, it is likely Brown will consider the “all-cuts” budget as well as a simple majority vote and another November ballot initiative.

Echoing similar sentiment from her constituents that a November ballot initiative would do California school districts little good, Jaurequi said, "Pushing these ballot measures to November is just unfair to the children in school.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Fair Oaks-Carmichael