California Educator

May / June 2016

Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/686175

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We CanÕ t Risk Going Back to the Days ofÉ We CanÕ t Risk Going Back to the Days ofÉ 30,000 Teacher Layoffs 30,000 Library Aides, Bus Drivers, Cafeteria & other Workers Laid off Larger Classes Arts & Music Programs Cut Community College Tuition Hikes protectingcalifornia.com Paid for by Californians for Protecting Public Education, Health Care and Budget Stability, Sponsored by Teachers, Health Care Providers, Doctors and Labor Organizations. Major funding by California Hospitals Committee on Issues, (CHCI) Sponsored by California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems (CAHHS) and California Teachers Association/Issues PAC (committee). PRINTED IN HOUSE Protecting Children and Schools CTA, coalition launch initiative to extend high earners' temporary income tax By LEN FELDMAN R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S O F M I L L I O N S of parents, educators, school employ- ees, health care providers, business groups, and working Californians came together on May 11 in Sacramento to launch the California Children's Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2016. e initiative will appear on November's general election ballot, and if passed would extend Proposition 30's income tax rates on the wealthiest Californians to prevent billions of dollars in funding cuts for public education and other vital services, including children's medical services. "Without this initiative, we know public education will again lose $4 billion a year," says CTA President Eric Heins. "We risk going back to the days of massive educator layoffs, larger class sizes, and more cuts to programs like art and music." e initiative would extend for 12 years the current income taxes on the top 2 percent of California's wealthiest — individuals earning more than $250,000 and couples earning more than $500,000 a year. (Working and middle-class families and businesses will benefit as the quarter-cent sales tax that was part of Prop. 30 expires as planned at the end of this year.) It will generate $8 billion to $11 billion annually for the Education Protection Account, a dedicated fund for K-12 public schools and community colleges. Other revenues will go to the state's Rainy Day Fund to improve access to health care for low-income children and their families. Budget forecasts show that without the initiative, public schools will face $4 billion in cuts, and the state budget will face a deficit of more than $4 billion in the first year (2019-20) alone. Funding from the initiative "will allow us to continue to adequately invest in education and secure a strong economy for our future," says Laphonza Butler, president of the SEIU (Service Employees Interna- tional Union) California State Council. S e e p r o t e c t i n g c a l i f o r n i a . c o m f o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n . #CACantGoBack #KidsMatterMost Without the Tax Extension on the Top 2 Percent of Earners: • Public schools will face $4 billion in cuts. • The state budget will face a deficit of more than $4 billion. CTA President Eric Heins speaks at the launch of the California Children's Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2016. 32 cta.org

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