California needs Prop. 30

Davis voters, as you vote yes on Measure E, please join me in voting yes on statewide Proposition 30 when you cast your ballot on Tuesday. Prop. 30 is the only initiative that will protect statewide school and safety funding and help address the state’s budget crisis.

If it passes, California public schools and universities will avoid another crippling $6 billion in budget cuts. New money for schools will go into a special fund the Legislature can’t touch.

If it passes, it will establish a guarantee for public safety funding in the state constitution where it can’t be touched without voter approval.

If it passes, it will balance our state budget and help pay down the state’s debt, the next critical steps to addressing the state’s chronic budget shortfalls.

If it passes, couples making less than $500,000 will pay no additional income tax, and the state sales tax will be lower than it was last year.

If it doesn’t pass, prepare yourselves for even more teacher layoffs, still larger classroom sizes, still fewer course offerings and still more compromises on public safety in our communities. Nobody wants that. Our towns, cities and counties simply can’t take another blow like defeat of Prop. 30 will deal them. So, again, please vote yes on Tuesday so that Tuesday night, we’ll all be thanking ourselves.

Tim Fenton
Davis