Prop. 30 support loses steam; $2.4 million on line for Eastside schools

October 26, 2012

Public support for Proposition 30, which would funnel $494,734 into Mammoth’s schools and $2.4 million into Eastside schools, appears to be running out of gas.

In new findings released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California, with support from The James Irvine Foundation, likely voters in California are sharply divided over Prop. 30, Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax measure to fund education, with just under half now supporting it.

When the ballot for Prop. 30 was first introduced, 48 percent said they would vote yes, 44 percent would vote no, and 8 percent were undecided.

The margin narrowed since September (52 percent yes, 40 percent no, and 8 percent undecided).

Prop. 30 would fund schools by increasing taxes on earnings over $250,000 for seven years and the sales tax by ¼ cent for four years, and would also guarantee public safety realignment funding.

Meanwhile, support is lower for Prop. 38, attorney Molly Munger’s tax measure to fund education. Just 39 percent would vote yes, 53 percent would vote no, and 9 percent are undecided in the newest findings. On that measure, voters were evenly divided in September (45 percent yes, 45 percent no).

Prop. 38 would increase taxes on earnings for 12 years, using a sliding scale, with revenues going to K–12 schools and early childhood programs and also, for four years, to repaying state debt.

According to figures compiled by Mono County Superintendent of Schools Stacey Adler and Inyo County Superintendent Terence McAteer, a defeat of Prop. 30 would have a devastating effect.

“If Proposition 30 passes,” wrote the two superintendents in a letter to the editor in last week’s Mammoth Times, “schools will continue to receive the same amount we are currently receiving.”

A failure by voters to approve the proposition would result in the state immediately reducing education funding by nearly $2.5 million to local school districts, they wrote.

Among the hardest hit would be at Bishop Unified, which stands to lose $941,734 and Mammoth, where $494,911 is on the line.