SACRAMENTO – The 2013-2014 State Budget package passed this weekend by the California Legislature is on time and balanced, according to Assemblymember Steve Fox (D-Palmdale).
Fox says there are positive changes for school districts and community colleges that have struggled financially over the past decade.
“All of our local schools will receive additional funding this year,” Fox said. “The budget package included mechanisms for elementary school class size reductions, more resources for students who need the most support, and debt repayments that were deferred during the recession. This will give our schools a long-deserved leg up.”
Some local school districts that have had the greatest financial challenges recently are among the recipients of the greatest per pupil base funding increases (see table below).
The budget establishes the Local Control Funding Formula which provides discretionary funds allocated based on the school’s population of English learners, foster youth, and low income pupils.
This year’s budget contains several measures to support California’s Community Colleges. Included is an additional $301 million for Community Colleges and priority enrollment for former foster youth and to students who are recipients of aid under the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids program.
Further, the Middle Class Scholarship provides tuition reduction to University of California and California State University students.
Fox, Chairman of the Select Committee on Community Colleges and a member of the Debt and Investment Advisory Committee, applauded Budget measures focusing on students.
“This increased education funding will reduce class size, pay down California’s debt to our local schools and reverse some of the historical funding inequities that have kept our students from fully reaching their potential. I am pleased to have been a part of this significant process.”
The $96.3 billion State Budget approved on June 14 and 15 is the product of 65 separate Assembly hearings and five Conference Committee hearings. The balanced budget includes a rainy day and surplus. This vote marks the third time the Legislature has passed an on-time budget.
For more information, please visit www.asmdc.org/fox. Review the State Budget at http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/ .
(Information via press release from the office of Assemblymember Steve Fox.)
Michael Rives says
We still are in the worst fiscal crisis in our nation’s history. The voters and the Democrats have raised taxes in the last election. We are experiencing a temporary boon in taxes due to stock speculation. The Governor of California wants to practice fiscal restraint. The legislature now with a ‘super majority’ are intent on keeping Mr. Fox is office and will eventually raise taxes again. Instead of creating a huge surplus to take care of business when things get bad again, Fox and company are going to spend the new temporary money like drunken sailors. No, Steve, as a
Democrat, you don’t get my vote next time! (For those who don’t think we are in the worst fiscal shape ever, check the amount of interest you get on your bank accounts.)
Jay says
haha yeah and in the 80s interest rates were out of the roof…what your point. Interest rate go up and down.
Raptormann says
It’s all irrelevant, they’re using smoke and mirrors as usual.
Michael Rives says
The point is that our economy is in the worst shape ever and the folks in Sacramento are spending money to expand Med Cal and give money to school districts that may not be there tomorrow. They are depending on federal help, for example, for Med Cal, but if it doesn’t materialize, you and I will pay as usual.
Hey, don’t get to heady about Fox’s accomplishments. He wants to build killer drones and build a state college when we can’t even fill the seats at AVC with qualified students. Wait until he votes to give illegals the privilege to drive on our streets….
William says
Boy, you’re going backwards as fast as you can.
William says
BTW, Michael Rives, conservatives want the government to be run like a business. Have you noticed how business, big business, runs like there are no rules which caused the collapse a few years ago that you’re complaining about.
So, why shouldn’t government use clever accounting tricks just like an Enron or like a Bank of America and lie about the facts with their mortgages?
Of course, I’m being facetious and I had to say for you.
Todd says
William, back at it again…..
The government does use accounting tricks, which if used by a company, would land their executives in jail:
http://www.shadowstats.com/article/no-500-special-commentary-us-government-gaap-based-2012-financial-data
And this is what caused the economic collapse. Notice towards the end it says “blame Wall Street and banks for the whole thing”:
http://angrywoodchucksblog.com/2010/10/16/what-caused-our-economic-collapse-in-a-nutshell/
Reality Check says
Please before we go off into happy dream land thinking the California legislature is now all of a sudden the most amazing governing body that ever existed. It has always been controlled by the democrats so we should probably not be quite so gullible. This was accomplished with tax increases and a slightly improved economy nothing more! Not all of a sudden amazing legislators. Please I have seen this so many times they will spend it all including the rainy day fund then want more money reality check people.
steamroller says
Dear reality check,
Just a reality check for you. The legislature was held hostage for years by a Republican minority with gerrymandered districts to keep themselves in office and a 60% vote threshold they used to nearly run the state into bankruptcy. Yes, the state government needs to be streamlined, its overhead reduced, and the cost of doing business in this state reduced. The Republicans weren’t doing that. They were just dismantling and deregulating, but not reforming.
Reality Check says
Some of us think that the 60% vote threshold is a good thing. Actually the democrats are just as guilty of gerrymandering. I love that the spend and spend legislature was held hostage and not allowed to do whatever they wanted really that’s hilarious. We shall see what changes I bet not much……
Mr. Mister says
Why the hissy fit over good news? Maybe we should put Arnold and company back in, right? How about ignoring the party affiliation and recognizing the progress? Be independent in your thinking.
Nikolas Malechikos says
I voted for Fox this past election, after having voted for the Republicans for so many years only to be disappointed.
Very happy to see him being so effective in his leadership and representation of his constituents!
qhr says
Awesome job, Mr. Fox! Please continue to push for a desperately needed Cal State AV campus.
Quigley says
Confirmed! If a school district in the AV comes up short now it will be proof of mismanagement of funds. No more excuses!
Geez! says
I mean, Steve’s accomplishments are actually getting a bit embarrassing. The Runner/Knight machine ran things for a couple of decades and I think you would be hard put to think of ONE PIECE of legislation that benefited the Antelope Valley. They like to point to Megan’s Law, and that is good legislation, but really. What did they ACTUALLY DO for the Antelope Valley except slurp up Sacramento party favors? The one thing they were very good at was saying, “no.” Steve Fox, in six months, has brought four different proposals to the table that could bring millions if not billions of dollars and hundreds of jobs to the Antelope Valley. I’m saying this as a die-hard Republican. I think it’s time for the Antelope Valley to wake up and smell the bacon. If the Republicans decide to run Ron Smith again, I think it will just prove how truly out of touch they are with the 36th Assembly District. I didn’t vote for Steve Fox in the primary, but he sure as heck has my vote next time around.
Yup says
Wow, so this is what it feels like to have an efficient legislator! To think all we had to do was vote for a democrat! Lancaster are you listening? Hint, hint!
Yup says
Excuse me I meant assemblymemeber. I’m still in shock ;)
Think Again says
So THIS is what having an effective legislator looks like. I knew they existed, just not in the Antelope Valley! And he never called Republicans “evildoers” one time! It is so refreshing to see a legislator that actually works for the District instead of name-calling the other party. Keep up the good work!
Yup says
Took the words right out of my mouth. I love how all the republicans have nothing to say about this. Usually they have a whooooole lot to say…about everything!
Geez! says
What is there to say, except “Great job, Steve Fox.” It’s amazing how much one little letter (D) can get done over the little letter (R) in Sacramento.
William says
And, he’s just getting started.
Think Again says
What is this strange emotion I’m feeling? Could it be hope for the Antelope Valley?
Mr. Mister says
Wow! Mr. Fox is quite the AV advocate. Glad our citizens got him into office. Imagine if all of our state legislators could turn results like him, we’d have a really effeiceint state government.
Jay says
Fox has done more for the Valley in 6 months than Knight has in his 8 years in Sac.
Geez! says
Darn Straight! Steve Knight is a nice guy, but “effective legislator” isn’t exactly how I would describe him. I wouldn’t mind having him as a next door neighbor, though.
William says
Steve Knight opposed having voting booths on college campuses well before the ‘voter suppression’ on the part of the republicans became well publicized.
That should tell you all you need to know about Steve Knight.