prop 30

        The article I read was from the Daily Trojan and it was written by Kristen Hernandez. The article was titled, Majority of Californians support Prop. 30, poll says. A recent poll showed that California voters would support Prop. 30 which would increase sales and income taxes to reduce budget cuts to public education. The sales tax would increase 1/4 cent per dollar for four years and the personal income tax for those who make more than $250,000 for seven years. “If it passes, the state will receive several billion dollars in additional revenue that will help prevent further cuts to education and other areas,” said Dominic Brewer, vice dean of research in partnerships and globalization at Rossier. If the prop passes our state would receive about $6 billion in additional state revenue. If rejected the state budget would be shortened by $6 billion. According to the poll, 55 percent of Californians support prop 30 and 36 percent oppose it. Poll respondents also believed that state politicians should decrease wasteful spending before raising taxes. Brewer says, “giving real examples for why more revenue is needed now will be essential- a general appeal isn’t likely to work”. 

USC students were asked about the new tax hikes and said neither of these options seems especially appealing. “When you’re just hearing about these things without really being in politics, what you hear is that there are multiple taxes on the ballot,” said Cat Shieh, a junior majoring in political science who works for the Unruh Institute of Politics. “Who likes taxes? Nobody.” You would think Mr. Shieh would be more optimistic about the prop because he is in school and would personally benefit from it. Unless, he or his parents make $250,000 a year I can not see why he said “who likes taxes”. He also may be misinformed about who is getting the tax hike which would make him against the prop. The measure only affects tax rates for the top three income tax brackets and the sale tax rate increase would differ by locality.  

Our education system is in need of many improvements because of the recent cuts in its funding. Voters in favor of prop 30 want to see programs that have been cut restored in schools and future cuts prevented. If the prop fails they would first want budget reduction in transportation of students to schools, increasing class sizes and shortening the school year. If the prop fails, I would like to see reduced administrator salaries along with reducing football and baseball funding. These two sports teams require a lot of money from paying the the many coaches, trainers, equipment, transportation, and field maintenance fees. I played on the Cabrillo tennis team where the only expense was our one coach and maybe $50 worth of tennis balls. In our economy football and baseball do not seem sustainable compared to smaller sports. Further cuts will be needed if this measure does not pass, but experts believe the poll results will prove true.