California’s largest teachers union, the California Teachers Association, has launched a public campaign against Governor Gavin Newsom’s plan to balance the state budget. The union claims that Newsom’s complex accounting maneuver would ultimately cost school districts nearly $12 billion in the future, despite shielding public schools from immediate cuts totaling $8.8 billion. CTA President David Goldberg announced that the union is prepared to take legal action if necessary, stating that they will not allow this plan to negatively impact education funding in the state.
Newsom, who is facing a budget deficit of at least $45 billion, defended his proposal as the best option to protect public schools from immediate spending cuts. The issue at hand revolves around Proposition 98, a voter-approved formula for funding public education in California. The Newsom administration argues that a retroactive impact on state tax collections resulted in schools only being entitled to $67 billion instead of the $76 billion they received for the 2022-23 fiscal year. Newsom’s plan involves the state pretending that schools gave back the $8.8 billion difference, with the expenses being spread out over future budgets starting in 2025-26.
Despite Newsom’s assertion that his proposal would maintain previous commitments to investing in public schools, school advocates are concerned about the long-term implications of the maneuver. By not including the $8.8 billion in the public education budget, the formula for school spending would be altered, resulting in nearly $12 billion less in public spending for schools in the upcoming years. Critics argue that the proposal is not a sustainable solution and would further exacerbate out-year deficits, creating more difficult decisions in the future.
A lobbyist for school districts in California, Kevin Gordon, suggested an alternative approach for Newsom to consider negotiating with school districts to suspend the school funding formula. This would mean that the state would not have to immediately pay the nearly $12 billion owed to schools, allowing the districts to be repaid over time. However, the California Teachers Association believes that Newsom’s plan is based on a fiction with no basis in fact or law and is calling for a different resolution that will not negatively impact education funding in the state.
Despite opposition from school advocates and the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, Newsom remains steadfast in his defense of the proposal, asserting that it is the best option to protect public schools from cuts. While the controversy continues to unfold, it is clear that education funding in California is a top priority for all parties involved, with efforts to find a solution that will both address the immediate budget deficit and ensure continued investment in the state’s education system. The outcome of this dispute will have far-reaching implications for the future of public education in California and the ongoing budget challenges facing the state.
