In a Big News Week, Updated Schools and Communities First Quietly Qualifies for the November Ballot

Back in April, backers of Schools and Communities First submitted a record-breaking 1.7 million signatures to the Secretary of State to qualify the funding measure for the fall ballot. While the state had to verify the signatures, less than 1 million were needed so it was all-but-certain the measure would earn its ballot spot.

And over the weekend, the state made it official. Schools and Communities First will be on the ballot.

“With the steep cuts in our county budget we’ll be faced with really difficult decisions that will jeopardize people’s access to these critically needed services,” writes Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheilia Kuehl.

“I was supportive very early on of Schools & Communities First before the COVID-19 pandemic, but now this initiative is needed more than ever, because we simply can’t afford these corporate tax loopholes that have gone on for decades.”

The State of California estimates that Schools and Communities First would raise an estimated $8-$12.5 billion a year for education, public health and other local infrastructure by changing the state constitution and raising property taxes on California’s largest businesses.

If passed, the measure would raise money by repealing a portion of the iconic “Proposition 13”, a 1978 ballot initiative that changed how property taxes are collected and led to the slow steady retreat of California’s fiscal support for public education.

The landmark Proposition 13 initiative overhauled how the state taxes property, capping property tax increases at no more than 2% each year on homes, businesses and farmland. Properties were to be reassessed only when sold.

The impact on California’s schools was stark. When Proposition 13 was first passed, California’s public schools were a national model, bolstered by some of the most impressive per-student funding in the country. Today, the exact amount spent per student is somewhat in question, although the most common figure shows California now is 31st in the country on per-pupil spending.

And while some argue that the health and fiscal crisis created by COVID-19 makes this a bad year to change tax formulas, both education leaders and public health professionals are arguing that California does not have the luxury of waiting.

“We set up crash courses for our teachers to learn how to do distance teaching, but even so, we know there’s a learning gap that will continue to grow, placing students of color, low-income kids, homeless youth, kids in foster care, students with special needs and immigrant students at a greater disadvantage,” writes LAUSD Board Member Jackie Goldberg.

“When this initiative passes, it will ensure that we will not only get through the virus to prevent cutting vital services to either our children’s or our communities.”

Over the weekend, the official Schools and Communities First campaign held a virtual press event highlighting the funding that could become available to local hospitals and clinics should the measure pass this fall.

“We are short of PPE, and so it’s heartbreaking to see, ” explains Kelly Zhou, a nurse anethestist at LAC and USC Medical Center. “We don’t have enough N95s for our nurses who are taking care of COVID patients. … It’s crucial that we are really investing in our lives and our families’ wellbeing to take care of patients. We don’t mind, we love our jobs, we will continue to work. But we need those resources, we need that help.”

The full press event can be viewed, here.

Public polling recently showed a 7 point increase in support over the past few months for Schools & Communities First, while internal polling from January of the initiative’s ballot language that voters will see in November garnered 58% support from likely California voters.

If you want to get involved in this campaign to refund public education and health, consider joining the virtual town hall “kickoff event” next Wednesday. Register by clicking here.