Budget and Immigration Issues Collide/ Jackie Cubas

As Republican lawmakers have proposed a reduction of benefits for illegal immigrants to save money, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says it’s a “big mistake” to blame illegal immigrants for the state's $8 billion budget gap.

This week Assembly Republicans promoted almost two dozen bills they think will reduce the "negative impact" that illegal immigrants have on the state budget and border security. The proposals range from requiring individuals to show proof of citizenship when receiving state-funded benefits to repealing a law enabling undocumented students to pay in-state college tuition.

While Assembly Republicans like Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, claim “There's a cost associated with illegal immigration whether we're in a deficit mode or not;” Democrats assert otherwise. “The fact of the matter is, immigrants have a positive impact on the economy and the budget, and they're essential to California's prosperity,” said Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. Legislative Democrats have vowed to block the GOP legislative package and accused Republicans of using illegal immigrants as scapegoats.

Citing a Federation for American Immigration Reform study released in 2004, Assembly Republicans said illegal immigrants cost the state $9 billion annually. The group estimated that California spends an estimated $7.7 billion alone on education for undocumented students. This estimate was disputed by Dowell Myers, a University of Southern California demographer, who said it is difficult to quantify the full economic impact of immigrants in California. He asserts it is hard to differentiate between legal and illegal workers and that immigrants provide an economic benefit by filling labor shortages in various occupations.

Link: http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/815068.html

S.B. County faces funding loss of $30 million/ Sarah Montes

If budget cuts proposed in Sacramento trickle down San Bernardino County will be facing losses of about $30 million in funding. The estimated cuts include a $19.1 million cut in Medi-Cal, children's services, adult protective services and in-home supportive services locally. Also, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton could see a $3.3 million cut. The county is projected to lose about $13 million in state sales tax money that would help fund public safety services and law enforcement.

Things are not looking good in San Bernardino County aside from budget cuts and diminishing state sales tax, housing sales were down 50 percent in 2007, compared to the previous three years

Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Biane said layoffs will be avoided.

Link: http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_B_bsupes19.441796f.html

State Legislature’s trusted budget analyst is stepping down/ Ayawo Awanyo

Elizabeth Hill, a state budget analyst, announced last Thursday she will step down after the end of the legislative session of this summer. Hill has held this position for more than 22 years and is well known for her sound budget advice. For more than seven years successively, the California budget has been out of balance even in times economy has flourished. Her staff estimates that lawmakers are less concerned about the budget crisis. The administration argues that the plan to recover the budget is sound even if this could not prevent the deficit to increasing from $ 14 billion to $16 billion. Hill’s office points out that the new health plan is less likely to be achieved because the state will run out of money in the following years because the tobacco tax could not generate substantial expected revenue. She believes the following have contributed to increasing the deficit: budgeting by ballot initiative, term limits, and huge expansions of government programs to serve a rapidly growing population.

Link: 14,1,4456510.story

Governor artfully surprises audience/ April Johnson

He’s known as the Terminator but an artist? Who knew? Today Governor Schwarzenegger attended the California Arts Council conference at the Memorial Auditorium in Sacramento where the theme was “The Future – What’s Next? While the conference focused on the challenges in funding art programs in schools, the Governor pledged that more money would be made available for the arts in the future. He also added, “I promise you – I’ll be back.”

Schwarzenegger was introduced by his sister in-law CAC Vice Chair Malissa Feruzzi Shriver as a patron of the arts as well as an artist himself and a small slide show was presented on the Governor’s paintings of flowers, dolphins and cows. Citing his passion for the arts, the Schwarzenegger praised the efforts of the CAC for their creative ways of raising funds such as the license plates designed by Sacramento painter Wayne Thiebald that has raised $3 million dollars. Though California is already the lowest of all 50 states in per capita spending for the arts, the Governor concluded his remarks by promising to “fixed the state budgeting process to that cuts in the arts funding would not have to be made…”

Link: http://www.sacbee.com/capolitics/story/761358.html

State Budget Axe Falls on CA School Teachers/ Megan McClendon

Recently, Governor Schwarzenegger announced a very large cut back in the education budget for the state to the tune of $4.8 billion. Many districts, expecting shortfalls in the millions of dollars have begun cuts and layoffs.

A reported 5,000 layoffs are expected to occur throughout the state this month, but not all teachers will receive layoff notification until early this summer. This has inspired many teachers statewide to fear the coming months and the potential job loss with little chance of rehire.

Rialto, has already sent notice to 305 teachers and are expecting to fall $23 million short in their budget next year as a result of many combined factors including: the governor’s budget cuts and ever-declining enrollment. The results of such cuts will remain to be seen, but in a state where teachers are already in short supply and classes are already large, 5,000 fewer teachers can only exacerbate an already volatile situation

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rialto3mar03,1,3753966.story?ctrack=2&cset=true

California Schools feel the Burn of Budget Cuts/Erica Quevedo

California’s budget crisis has reached new heights as Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal could possibly cut $4.8 billion dollars in education funding. As school districts throughout California frenzy to trim their already slim budgets they are faced with the dim reality of firing teachers.

Rialto Unified School District, which faces a $23 million budget cut, voted last week to send over 300 notices to employees and teachers informing them that they may not have a job next year. While some districts like San Francisco who face a $40 million dollar budget cut have the luxury of looking hopefully towards accessing a “rainy day” fund, other districts like Long Beach Unified are forced to close down schools. If the San Francisco Board of Supervisors fail to pass the proposal to access the rainy day funds the 56,000 student district will be forced to lay off over 500 teachers and administrators. Meanwhile Long Beach Board of Education has voted to close Tucker Elementary school in efforts to save an estimated $1 million dollars; in consequence they are forced with relocating 400 students to neighboring MacArthur Elementary school.

Los Angeles Unified School District alone is potentially facing a $560 million dollar deficit for next year under this proposed budget; this would be the largest in the state. According to the LA Times, Chief Financial Officer Megan K. Reilly said the $460-million cut would be the equivalent of closing 22 high schools, firing 5,750 employees or instituting an 8% pay cut for all employees.

As School Districts throughout California feel the heat of budget cuts policy makers must scramble to address the unintended consequences and effects on education policy. The dangers of firing teachers and school employees potentially leads to increased class sizes, over crowdedness, less security and ultimately further burdens an already struggling education system.

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-schools21feb21,0,3850513.story?page=1

Nunez Supports 50/50 Path to Fill Budget Gap/ Jackie Cubas

This week, speaking at a lunch meeting of the Sacramento Press Club, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez announced that he could support raising revenue to help the state’s projected $14.5 billion deficit. He said that a “fair compromise” to solving the state’s budget problem would be to solve half of the money crisis with revenue increases and the other half with spending cuts. The 50-50 approach was once employed by Gov. Pete Wilson when faced with a similar budget crisis in the early 1990s.

Núñez's budget comments have come at a time when lawmakers are trying to craft a plan to solve this year's budget deficit. Legislative committees are expected to disclose a strategy this week. Nunez, a Los Angeles Democrat, added that no agreement has been reached with Republicans.

When asked how to generate new revenue, Núñez mentioned the possibility of taxing oil companies for drilling, closing a tax loophole on yacht purchases, increasing taxes on million-dollar vacation homes, and possibly creating a split tax roll that generates more revenue from businesses. Núñez also resurrected the notion of leasing or selling the state lottery to a private investor. His proposal would be a selective tax on the wealthy as he said he opposes an across-the-board tax hike.

Link: http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/708613.html

CSU Moves Up Admissions Deadline...HS Students Scramble/April Johnson

A memorandum, written by CSUS officials, will be sent out to high schools informing incoming freshmen that admissions for all 23 campuses will close February 1st. This decision moves up the admission deadline a full six months. This unexpected move comes as part of the governor’s proposal to reduce state support for a university system that already has problems with overcrowding.

Currently the CSUS system serves 445,000 students and expected to increase the student load by an additional 10,000 for the 2008-09 school year. The strain has already been felt this year, however, as CSU schools are already underfunded by 14,000 students.

What will this mean for incoming students? A prioritizing system will have to be implemented and the schools may have to accept only those transfer students who have completed all prerequisite classes…


Link: http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/637679.html

CSU vs. Community Colleges - Battle Over Budget Funds/ Julia Gonzales

In an effort to stave off the harmful affects of the impending proposed state budget cuts totaling $1.1 billion dollars in higher education, the California State University system has announced this week that it has moved up its admission deadline from August 10th, to February 1, to reduce its enrollment by 10,000.

Consequently, it is expected that students will attend the state’s 109 Community Colleges (CC). The CC must now brace itself for the potentially harmful affects that the spike will have on the overall quality of education, as it will admit all who apply, whilst impending budget cuts will not allow them to provide additional courses to teach new students. In sum, those most affected by the likely budget shortfall, will unfortunately be the state’s 10,000 H.S. graduates.

Link: : http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/641089.html

Governor Calls for Constitutional Amendment in midst of Budget Woes/ Sarah Montes

California is facing an estimated $14-billion budget deficit. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proposed a constitutional amendment that would impose a spending cap to keep the state from spending more than it collects. The governor will have to cut certain services to the poor, AIDS patients, and the elderly. The new budget will also increase insurance fees for millions of property owners.

The governor has made changes from previous proposals to give lawmakers more power to decide which programs would not be funded. It is estimated that the governor’s plan faces many challenges from Democrats. Republicans are in favor of this proposal.

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-state9jan09,1,1073847.story?coll=la-headlines-california