California Proposition 1B - Essay Example

California Proposition 1B California proposition1B is among the six ballot Propositions proposed on May 19, 2009, which was a special election ballot. Its main aim was to provide $9.3 billion to the California schools and the community colleges it was to provide additional funds for the purposes, of financing primary education in California. Voters would incur an additional taxes increment for two years so as to sustain the requirement of the proposition 1B of funding schools and community colleges. The funds would be sent to the schools and community college in the fiscal year of 2011- 2012 this would make up for the previous cutbacks in the state funding.The California budget was also predicted to be stronger in the year 2011-2012 hence would also begin for the $9.3 supplementary payments. If voters agreed to Proposition 1B, it would go to implementation if also Proposition 1A was in turn passed. Proposition 1A in turn would have permitted an additional room for tax increases obligatory as component of the fiscal year 2009 -2010 budget agreement this would result in a tax increase to $16 billion. The goal of Proposition 1B was to increase funding to the state schools and community colleges and would also supplement education in California State. The $9.3 billion supplementary fund was to act as replacement for any payments that the state would be required to meet under the current laws. Proposition 1B arose due the dispute in the late 2008 between Arnold Schwarzenegger’s administration and public school system concerns in references to various interpretations of Proposition 98. In 1998, voters approved Proposition 98 which was an amendment to the California constitution. It required that the state provide a minimum level of funding for k-12 schools and community colleges. However, the ‘’minimum guarantee’’ came into an issue in recent years which lead to dispute the amount of money the state owed the education sectors. Proposition 98 also provided a raise yearly in education in California budget. It was also called the classroom instructional improvement and accountability act. It required that education made up to 39 % of the state budget. To be implemented in years of strong economic growth, the educational spending should equal that of yesteryears and an additional per capital growth and student enrollment change. To be implemented in years of weak economic growth yester years spending plus change in growth for enrollment and increase of 0.5% in the state shared financial support. Proposition 98 could only be suspended by two-thirds majority vote of the California Legislature, it received high-level criticism by several groups because it mandates auto-pilot expenditure and decreases legislature’s budgetary elasticity. Proposition 1B was highly supported by the California Teachers associations they supported Proposition 1B reasons. California schools had suffered the adverse effect of the state budget crisis. The educational spending had been reduced highly by over $ 12billion. In result to this over 500 teachers were laid off and jobs of over 1300 teacher were at a risk of been laid off. Classroom sizes increased, and the textbooks used in the classes were outdated due to these students were left with fewer teachers, counselors, and librarians. Some crucial programs offered in the schools of vocational education were cut off art and music was cut off in many schools making the students lose a lot. California Teachers associations supported the Proposition 1B as it would start paying back to the schools and the community colleges a relative amount of some of the money lost by the adverse effects of the cuts. In addition Proposition 98 would also provide a way for schools to keep on acquiring funding that set out in Proposition 98. This would allow district schools to rehire teachers reduce classroom sizes update textbooks re-establish critical learning curriculum, and accountability would also be enhanced for all the funds spent. Bill gates and Governor Schwarzenegger were also great supporters of the Proposition 1B. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Associations highly opposed Proposition 1A it had direct linkage to Proposition 1B. For Proposition 1B to go into effect Proposition 1A would also be passed. Other groups who benefit from the state spending also opposed Proposition 1A. As it would possibly divert their desired government spending to the education sector, the group includes California Nurses Association, peace and freedom party, American Federation state, County and Municipal Employees. This group did not directly oppose Proposition 1B but opposed Proposition 1A which would divert funds meant for them. Proposition 1B to go into effect Proposition 1A had to be passed also. This created high controversy in the special voting for the Proposition. Gubernatorial candidate of the Republican party Meg Whitman evened tapped his individual possessions to defeat the supporters. The Proposition 1B received both support and opposition while others supported it but opposed Proposition 1A that had to be put into the effect on the implementation of Proposition 1B. Specifically the nurse represented by the California Nurses Associations who opposed Proposition 1A as it would potential diminish funds meant for them ,as they would be redirected to the education sectors .The same case applied to American Federation States ,County and Municipal Employees who only opposed Proposition 1A . Teachers highly supported Proposition 1B as it would bring high-level reforms to the education sector in California State. Teachers would be rehired the classroom sizes reduced and the textbooks which the students used would be up to date bringing reforms to the education sector in the state. Funds were raised in support and opposition of the Proposition 1B for campaign purposes to pass a message to the voter who would pass their votes for the implementation of the Proposition. Most of the voters were undecided and campaigns will make a significant impact on the decision they would make. A yes vote on this Proposition would mean supplemental funds to school and community colleges would be paid by the state. A no vote on this Proposition means that no supplemental funds would be made by the state to the community colleges and schools but instead normal disbursement should be made as mandatory by the law. In conclusion Proposition 1B aim was to bring reforms in the educational sectors by supplementary payments, to school and community colleges to cover up for the payment state would incur in the school and community colleges. The implementation of Proposition 1B would also mean that Proposition 1A would also be implemented as they went hand in hand. Read More