Jorge Cruz
S. Knapp
English 2
October 14th, 2012
Where are YOU going?
In these up and coming elections taking place in November many big changes will be decided upon within them there is a hidden one called Proposition 30. As for those who do not know Prop 30 is brought up by our Governor Jerry Brown. The action it will take if it passes is increasing sales tax .25% and 1%-3% on income taxes for those who make $250,000 or as a family make over $500,000 annually in California. Although increases in taxes sound intimidating it is for the greater good, education, proposition 30 passing will greatly benefit students from K-12th grade and those in colleges and CSU`s.
Proposition 30 passing, as I have mentioned, would increase sales tax but for four years and income tax for seven years. The money gained from that will be split. 89% would go to K-12th grade and 11% for colleges. But what would happen to the education system if 30 does not pass considering it specifically benefits education? Education will take a huge hit financially. As a result of 30 not passing, there will be $6 billion in budget cuts. Out of those $6 billion the majority of that money ($5.5 billion) will be cut from K-12th grade, CSU`s get cut $250 million. While classes get cut from CSU`s, staff and other employees get laid off. Let us not forget: tuition fees will increase. Over the last decade tuition fees have increased dramatically by 300% and just 9% this last fall continuously making it difficult for students to pay off tuition, classes and for other school essentials.
As a current student in Cabrillo College paying for school with money out of my own pocket, I personally believe tuition fees are high enough as it is and I honestly fear facing the struggles 30 will bring upon me if it does not pass. For those who do not know CSU students alone will have to pay up to $150 more in tuition than what they are already paying to get in, but “[i]f Proposition 30 passes, CSU and UC campuses will receive $125 million from the state, and CSU trustees will rescind a 9-percent tuition increase that took effect this fall.” (CSU Board) Community college students alone used to pay $26 per unit in the spring of 2010, now in the fall of 2012 it has being raised to $46 per unit. Prop 30 will keep these prices from rising any longer and assures stability for CSU`s and colleges as well keeping three weeks of schools being cut from the K-12th grade. Aside from the budgets cuts, our schools current shape is not in the best condition. Good teachers have been laid off, might be laid off and will be laid off because of cuts from the past and those coming up in the future. Think of the condition of our schools in the long run. While education is being stripped of the money it needs continuously , what does the future for education look like? Its shape? The progress it will have in shaping kids for the future? The impression it will leave on your kids?
I work part time during the school year but that has begun to get more and more ridiculously challenging as the classes I enroll in require more time to be spent on homework, studying the material for tests and yet manage to get a good amount of sleep, all while being a full-time student. Most of what I earn goes to paying off my tuition and the rest covers the expenses of the essential school materials such as books, supplies and transportation. 30 will do so much good for thousands of students and I by keeping classes from being cut. I have not experienced having a class that I require to take being cut, but for those who have it must have been a huge setback in their career plan. Devastating in fact because there would be higher demand for classes that have limited open spaces for students. I would not want to face that struggle if 30 does not pass. The way things are currently is already difficult for many students. The failure of 30 passing would completely crush their and my own will of continuing on with college. Prices increasing, classes being cut, limited space, programs eliminated, and overall the thought of having restrictions with what we can do as students to progress. I can`t imagine how frustrating it would be. What I expect to feel or happen is having lost the essence of time by working more than usual by trying to find a second job to cover for my expenses. Most importantly: the loss of hours to that would be spent on homework. Determined to continue on with school my hours of sleep will disintegrate as they will be sacrificed to be spent on homework.
As we all know taxes have been increased for the past decade multiple times, and it is being raised again with 30. Just the thought of it may drive fear into people. Small business owners worry about how they will be affected over the course of the next four years. Rest assure though sales tax will only increase .25%, that being 25 cents for each $100. Next is the “unfairness” going on with California`s top 3%. Why should they, who make so much money, have to pay more taxes? Even though they may be rich and pay for school for their own children already 30 basically wants to tax them more to get money to schools. They argue because they are so successful, what makes it right to tax them more? In the online article “The Reactionary Essence of California`s Proposition 30” the author David Brown says “[t]he income tax on those making over $250,000 does not ultimately change the character of Prop 30 as anti-working class. The wealthiest layers of society have at their disposal countless loopholes and ways of avoiding taxes. As noted by the California Budget Project, the poorest fifth of California’s families pay 10.2 percent of their household income on state and local taxes, while the top 1 percent pay only 7.4 percent of their income.” If we speak of this being unfair for them the reality lies in how the unfairness lies upon the middle and lower class paying more taxes than the top 3%.
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