Community colleges in San Diego County are transforming the lives of thousands of students and their communities. Visit any of thousands of businesses and healthcare facilities in San Diego, and you will find community college graduates making a significant contribution to our region and economy.
To continue to provide the high quality education our region needs to thrive, community colleges in San Diego County and throughout the state are reliant on the state funding originally approved in 2012, and extended by voters in 2016, increasing taxes on the wealthiest Californians. The funding is currently set to expire in 2031. Proposition 3 would make that investment in public education permanent, reducing the risk of future program reductions if the tax expires.
Proposition 3 is not a tax increase. It maintains the tax rates that the wealthiest Californians have paid for 14 years. The state Legislative Analysts’ Office estimates that maintaining the existing tax rates would generate $5 billion to $15 billion in annual revenue to be invested in critical education and healthcare services. If allowed to expire, it will reduce taxes on the wealthy at the expense of classrooms, clinics, and communities.
Roughly 40% of the revenue generated supports education, about $2 billion to $6 billion annually. Without Proposition 3, California’s 8 million public school and community college students will face billions in cuts each year, resulting in teacher layoffs, overcrowded classrooms, and reductions in courses and programs.
The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District, with Grossmont College and Cuyamaca College in eastern San Diego County, estimates that it would lose about $32 million a year if Proposition 3 fails. The San Diego Community College District, which includes San Diego City, San Diego Mesa, San Diego Miramar and San Diego College of Continuing Education, estimates that it would lose $62 million annually if Proposition 3 fails.
Proposition 3 includes strict accountability to guarantee the money reaches the state’s classrooms. Funds go directly to local school districts and community colleges. Politicians and bureaucrats cannot redirect the money or spend it on bureaucracy or administrative overhead.
We urge you to vote in favor of Proposition 3 to prevent significant declines in funding for education and healthcare, and to ensure that community colleges can continue to provide an affordable, high quality education while continuing to maintain student access, provide workforce training programs, and transfer pathways to universities.
Gregory Smith is the chancellor of the San Diego Community College District. He lives in Rancho Peñasquitos. Lynn Ceresino Neault is the chancellor of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District. She lives in Carmel Valley.
