California's Kids & November's Ballot
Sep 25, 2012
Research shows that the earlier we start helping kids, the better. Ages 0-5 is the most important stage for brain development and personal health, when over 90% of brain growth occurs. If we don't invest in kids at the front end, we're going to continue to pay the rising costs of failures at the back end - poor school performance, rising dropout rates, more time in jail, higher unemployment, poverty, drug use, teen pregnancy, etc.
There are two initiatives on November's ballot of immense importance to California's kids. Proposition 30, Governor Brown's "Schools and Local Public Safety and Protection Act of 2012," will provide $2.9 billion in its first year towards K-14 public education, and the remainder in support of the state's General Fund. It will be funded by a ¼ cent sales tax increase for four years and a tiered income tax increase for people earning more than $250,000 for the next seven years.
Proposition 38, entitled "Our Children, Our Future," is expected to generate $5 billion for 2012-13, and then $10 billion through 2024. For the first three years, 60 percent of revenue would be allocated to K-12, 10 percent to early preschool education, and 30 percent to the state General Fund. The proportion devoted to early childhood funding would grow during years 4-12, up to 15 percent of revenues. The revenue for this initiative will come from a tiered income tax increase of 0.4 percent for low-income earners, up to 2.2 percent for individuals earning more than $2.5 million.
Both Proposition 30 and 38 will increase investments in California's children in varying measures. It's your choice!
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