A proposed budget will go before the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Education for a vote Tuesday night, but the real decision will likely be up to California voters.
When the board conducts a public hearing Tuesday at 7 p.m., it will be considering a budget which might have to be drastically revised if Proposition 30 on the Nov. 6 ballot is rejected at the polls.
The proposition is a proposed state constitutional amendment which is aimed at raising revenue for education and public safety.
“Due to California’s sluggish economic recovery, the uncertain outcome of the Governor’s November tax initiative, and proposed implementation of trigger reductions for 2012-13, it is recognized that, if necessary, the school district will continue to implement cuts of $33.3 million in 2012, $51.3 million in 2013-14 and an additional $70.1 million in 2014-15 to maintain fiscal solvency,” reads an excerpt from the annual budget report.
Like most school districts, the GGUSD has slashed millions from its budget, cutting classes, laying off employees, forgoing raises and imposing “furlough” days which shorten the school year.
If Proposition 30, advocated by Gov. Jerry Brown, doesn’t pass, schools will be forced to make even more drastic cuts, supporters say.
Proposition 30 would:
• increase the state sales tax from 7.25 to 7.5 percent;
• create three new high-income tax brackets for taxpayers earning over $250,000, $300,000 and $500,000. The income sales tax increase would be in effect for seven years.
The new tax brackets would impose a 10.3 percent state income tax on those earning between $250,000 and $300,000; 11.3 percent for those earning $300,000 to $500,000 and 12.3 percent for those earning over $500,000. Those in the latter group would see their state tax liability rise by 24.39 percent.
The additional income tax would affect the top 3 percent of California taxpayers. It’s estimated the revenue raised from the sales and income tax increases would be between $6.8 billion and $9 billion.
The GGUSD board meets on the fifth floor of the Education Center, 10331 Stanford Ave., Garden Grove.
