Berkeley school district could lose up to $7.8M under Newsom's budget plan

"Education officials across California are calling on the governor and state Legislature to scrap a plan to withhold billions in education funding that they say means more cuts for students and continues a harmful trend of underfunding. Ahead of Gov. Gavin Newsom's revised budget proposal, expected next week, school district leaders across the state are pushing for him to allocate the full amount of Proposition 98 funding required by the state."

"The Berkeley Unified School District (BUSD) stands to lose up to $7.8 million if California reduces the Prop. 98 guarantee, a cut that would deepen its already tight budget deficit $8 million this school year. The proposed withholding would trigger real reductions to student services, academic interventions, mental health services, staffing, and programs that our students rely on every single day, said Edgar Zazueta, the executive director of the Association of California School Administrators, at a press conference this week."

"Proposition 98 requires an annual minimum guarantee of funding for K-12 schools and community colleges, which equates to about 40% of the state's general fund. In his draft budget released in January, Newsom proposed holding back $5.6 billion earmarked for schools, based on general fund revenue for the 2025-2026 year. While Newsom said the deferral would mitigate the risk of appropriating more resources than end up being available, due to persistent uncertainty in revenue projections, school boards, district officials and unions across the state said del"

Education officials across California are urging the governor and state Legislature to scrap a plan to withhold billions in education funding. They say the proposal would lead to more cuts for students and continues a pattern of underfunding. Ahead of a revised budget proposal, school district leaders are calling for full allocation of Proposition 98 funding required by the state. Berkeley Unified School District could lose up to $7.8 million if the Prop. 98 guarantee is reduced, worsening an $8 million deficit. Officials warn that withholding would reduce student services, academic interventions, mental health services, staffing, and programs. Proposition 98 sets an annual minimum funding guarantee for K-12 schools and community colleges, about 40% of the state’s general fund.

Read at www.berkeleyside.org