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| Wednesday, Feb 20 2008 9:17 AM
Last Updated: Wednesday, Feb 20 2008 5:26 PM
From behind a lectern sign reading “Protect Prop 98, Protect Students,” Kern County educators joined a statewide campaign Wednesday asking legislators to rethink more than $4 billion in education funding cuts proposed by the governor for this year and next.
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Proposition 98, which makes up about 70 percent of K-12 funding, sets minimum funding for education but it may be suspended as the state works through a $16 billion deficit. It was also suspended in 2004 - 2005.
While general fund revenue has increased 80 percent over the past decade, education spending has increased just 69 percent while non-education spending has increased 111 percent, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office.
The long-range effects of the crisis are unknown, Reider said. Districts must make layoff notifications by March 15. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has asked the legislature to get its budget ready by March.
Rosedale Union School District Superintendent Jamie Henderson said he could lose 30 teachers and eliminate class-size reduction programs.
The state’s bleak budget picture got even bleaker Wednesday when the Legislative Analyst’s Office estimated the deficit has grown by $1.5 billion. It also proposed leaving education funding for next year at its current level.
Its cuts would target programs deemed poorly structured or that have declining enrollment, leaving the deficit to education at $800 million, LAO’s Web site said.