By Wendolyn Serrano and Melissa Martinez
This fall, Governor Jerry Brown announced his initiative to raise revenue for the K-12 schools and colleges across the state of California by introducing Proposition 30.
If Prop 30 passes in November, California sales tax will rise from 7.25 to 7.5 percent, also a 10.3 percent tax rate on taxable income above $250,000 11.3 percent over $300,000 and 12.3 percent over $500,000 will be imposed for the next seven years. Brown estimates that the additional income tax increase will only affect 3 percent of Californians but will add up to a $6.8 to $9 billion for the 2012 – 2013 year.
If Prop 30 does not pass, the immediate impact the CSU system would face is a $6 billion deficit causing a proposed 5 percent tuition increase next semester and additional tuition increases for the 2013 – 2014 academic year.
According to CSU Board of Trustees, if Prop 30 is approved there will be a tuition fee rollback which would reimburse the 9 percent increase that was implemented for this fall.
The CSU Board of Trustees is currently considering a proposed back-up plan if Prop 30 is rejected which would include reducing the pay and benefits for faculty, staff and administrators plus decreasing future enrollment by 3 percent.
Lobby Corp, a new political and non-partisan group on campus has emerged this fall in hopes of getting students to actively participate in the 2012 election. Lobby Corp is also responsible for visiting the local legislatures and pressuring them to support higher education and any bills that could benefit students. Their goal is to register at least 2,000 students for this upcoming election.
In addition to Lobby Corp, CSUSM’s ASI will be actively participating. “ASI of CSUSM will also take an active role in advocating for higher education, its benefits to the state of CA and the issues affecting each campus to state and local representative and the general public,” recently appointed Board of Trustees member, Cipriano Vargas said.