Support of Proposition 30 on the November 2012 Ballot: Temporary Taxes to Fund Education - Guaranteed Local Public Safety Funding

AS-3090-12/EX

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) support Proposition 30, Temporary Taxes to Fund Education. Guaranteed Local Public Safety Funding; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the ASCSU commend the California State Student Association for its early support of Proposition 30 and for its commitment to educate and mobilize CSU students and others to support Proposition 30; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the ASCSU urge campus senates to endorse Proposition 30 and to encourage their campus faculty, staff, students, alumni, families, and friends to support Proposition 30; and be it further

RESOLVED: That this resolution be distributed to the Board of Trustees, campus presidents, campus senate chairs, California State Student Association, California Faculty Association and other collective bargaining units in the CSU, Intersegmental Council of Academic Senates, membership of the California State Legislature, Governor Jerry Brown, and the “Yes on Prop 30” campaign.

RATIONALE: At the July 17, 2012 meeting of the CSU Board of Trustees, the importance of Prop 30 for the CSU was made clear. According to AVC Robert Turnage, campuses are already struggling with the effects of the $750 million reduction in state support last year. The failure of Prop 30 on the November 2012 ballot would guarantee another $250 million trigger cut to the California State University system. If this trigger cut is implemented, annual state support for the system will fall to approximately $1.8 billion, a loss of annual funding of almost $1.2 billion, or 39 percent, from the peak level of state support of nearly $3 billion in the 2007-08 fiscal year.

On that day, the Board of Trustees approved a resolution endorsing Proposition 30"given its direct relationship to the systems' fiscal stability and funding levels in 2012-2013 and beyond." (http://www.calstate.edu/BOT/Resolutions/Jul2012.pdf). The California State Student Association had previously unanimously approved "A Resolution in Support of Governor Brown's Tax Initiative Proposal" (CSSA-06-12) on July 15, 2012. The California Faculty Association and numerous other education, public safety, business/community groups, and labor organizations also endorse Prop 30 (http://www.yesonprop30.com/index.php/endorsements).

The ASCSU joins others in supporting funding for public education and safety. We recognize the importance of investing in the future of California, and that such investment includes funding for the education of California’s citizens. Should Proposition 30 fail, the CSU will again be forced to cut enrollments and leave those seeking an education with fewer affordable and accessible options, severely limit programs and services that impact the quality of education provided to those enrolled, more severely limit the quality and scope of research and service that impacts our campuses and broader communities, and lose even more employees. Ongoing budget cuts diminish the ability of the CSU to fulfill our mission and obligation to enhance the quality of life for our students and to improve conditions throughout the state and beyond. Predictable state support is critical to control tuition costs for students and their families.

Approved Unanimously by the Executive Committee of the Academic Senate of the California
State University, July 31, 2012

This endorsement was also supported without dissent by 50 of the 53 ASCSU senators who
responded to an email inquiry from the ASCSU Chair.