The California Teachers Association criticized Governor Gavin Newsom for his budget plan that will prevent billions in cuts for schools, potentially costing them nearly $12 billion in the future. CTA President David Goldberg announced a public campaign against the plan, calling it a threat to school funding. The union has launched ads to raise awareness about what they see as an unconstitutional maneuver and may pursue legal action if necessary.
Although Newsom’s budget plan did save $8.8 billion in immediate cuts for schools, the added future cost has led to concerns. The governor defended his decision as the best option to protect schools from immediate cuts and avoid disruptions in the system. The situation arose due to Proposition 98, a voter-approved formula for school funding that overprojected by $8.8 billion because of lower-than-expected tax revenue.
The schools have already spent the extra $8.8 billion, and the state must now decide whether to reclaim the funds or adjust its budget. Newsom’s solution involves spreading the money out over future budgets starting in 2025-2026, a move criticized by experts like Karen Getman, who described it as ignoring a significant financial issue.
