header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


Katniss Everdeen,  the protagonist of Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games trilogy and hit feature film, fights for survival using her skills with a bow and arrow. Civil rights attorney Molly Munger visited Santa Clarita with a quiver full of arrows to target the lack of funding for California K through 12 education.

“Pushy and even relentless is really kind of what we need to be here. We really have to stand up for our children and right this situation that we’re in,” said Munger.

Munger addressed Parent Teacher Association (PTA) members, local school superintendents, board members and principals who were interested in hearing the differences between her initiative (which she is so passionate about she’s sunk a reported $3.4 million of her own money into it) versus Governor Jerry Brown’s alternative tax hiking initiative.

Munger (below) says both initiatives raise taxes and put the money in a special fund, but that’s where the paths divert.

molly_munger“There is this very dramatic fork in the road where the governor’s initiative says in section 3(g), ‘Hey, by the way, that’s all just general fund money, that’s all part of the Sacramento slosh,” said Munger.

As Munger explains it Brown’s initiative, officially called the California Sales and Income Tax Increase Initiative (2012), would take funds raised by taxes and put it into a general pool of dollars, some of which would go to schools.

“Ours says in very strong language ‘and not one penny of this money is general fund money’. This is all special money. The Sacramento politicians can’t touch it. It’s not part of the budget. This is barricaded money,” Munger said.

Munger hopes the governor will be more honest about what his initiative addresses. She believes it’s in the public’s interest to have people choose whether they want to help schools specifically or help plug holes in the budget; however, voters should not be misled to believe Brown’s initiative will be the best choice for people wanting to support education.

“We can do a small thing and we can bail out the budget or we can do a bigger, bolder thing and really fix our schools. And that’s a good choice for people to have. I think it’s empowering to people to have a choice,” said Munger.

Munger also wants people to realize Brown’s initiative contains a tax shift.

“You realize that also in the governor’s initiative there’s a constitutional amendment that permanently shifts money out of schools by taking sales tax dollars and sending them to counties for public safety realignment,” said Munger.

Munger says the tax shift is one reason superintendents and business people are scratching their heads over the fact that there will be little new net funding for schools under the Brown initiative.

The Saugus Union School District recently sent 80+ pink slips to teachers. In the aftermath Board Member Paul De Le Cerda has been pursuing local measures such as general obligation bonds or parcel taxes to raise funding. Munger said she supports local initiatives but they aren’t sufficient.

She cited an example in the Los Angeles Unified School District which has a very large tax base. Parcel taxes raise approximately $200 per student, but their budgets have been cut $800 to $900 per student.

“With parcel taxes they’re good as far as they go. We should support them absolutely. It’s not either/or, it’s both/and, because we will not get well in our schools with parcel taxes alone. We need both things,” said Munger.

To earn a spot on the state’s 2012 ballot, sponsors of the Our Children, Our Future initiative must collect 504,760 signatures. A recent USC-Times poll revealed that only 32 percent of California voters supported her initiative. Munger says disinformation about polling has confused supporters about how popular her initiative really is.

“You may live in a world where you think ‘Gee, I love Our Children, Our Future. I care about kids. I care about schools. I can see how important this is. But I keep reading in the paper that no one else does and Our Children, Our Future just isn’t very popular’. You really should not let those stories discourage you,” Munger said.

Munger admits that only 30 percent of Californian’s have children in public schools, but counters that 64 percent are willing to tax themselves to support schools. Historically, she says schools get higher ratings of voter support to tax themselves than higher education or health care.

Munger is the daughter of Berkshire Hathaway Vice Chairman Charles Munger, which is a company run by millionaire Warren Buffet. She believes that supporting schools is a bedrock value of American even among conservatives who don’t like taxes.

“My Republican father being presented with this idea said ‘You know Molly I’ve never voted against any school bond or any proposal to fund the schools in my life and I’m not going to oppose this either’. And that’s really how most people in California think,” said Munger.

The second novel in The Hunger Games trilogy is titled Catching Fire. Perhaps the Our Children, Our Future initiative will indeed catch fire and schools will no longer suffer the slings and arrow of outrageous fortune.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

2 Comments

  1. rockinlinus says:

    Munger is on the right track. Money for schools needs to be protected because uneducated kids make for very expensive adults. $20 billion cut from schools over the last four years and now a judge just ruled that the governor can raid the general fund money meant for schools, whenever he wants. Walling off this money which is over and above any Prop 98 minimum formula the governor manufactures is the way to go. The California State PTA signed on to support Munger’s “Our Children, Our Future” initiative — that’s good enough for me.

  2. Currently California has the 2nd worst state income tax in the nation. 9.3% tax bracket starts at $48,029 for people filing as individuals. 10.3% tax starts at $1,000,000.

    Governor Brown is putting on the ballot a prop to change the “millionaires’ tax” to 13.3%, starting at $500,000 – including capital gains. If approved, CA will be by far #1 in income tax rates.

    We will be 21% higher than the 2nd highest state (Hawaii), 34% higher than the third highest state (Oregon), and a heck of a lot higher than all the rest – including seven states with zero income tax.
    http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/bp59_es.pdf

    And BTW, there’s ANOTHER income tax measure on the same November ballot (the “Munger” initiative) that would raise the millionaires’ tax even higher — 15.3%. And it has big union money backing it.

    It SHOULD also be backed by the other 49 states seeking our wealthy refugees, but admittedly that would be “bad form.”

    CA has the highest state sales tax rate in the nation. 7.25% (as of 1 July, 2011 – does not include local sales taxes).
    http://www.taxfoundation.org/files/bp60.pdf Table #15

Leave a Comment


LOCAL SCHOOL LINKS
Related Content
LATEST SCHOOL NEWS
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
Monday, Mar 25, 2024
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, March 26, with closed session beginning at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by public session at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Mar 22, 2024
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Wednesday, March 27, beginning with closed session at 5:30 p.m., followed immediately by open session at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Mike Kuhlman, superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District, will be leaving his post effective June 30, 2024, he announced in a district-wide email Wednesday night. 

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDEC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Latino Business Alliance at the Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 7.
May 7: Latino Business Alliance Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is hosting March Meowness promotion where all cat adoptions are just $15 from now until April 9.
Adopt a Cat During March Meowness at Castaic Animal Center
California State University, Northridge is partnering with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and the Tataviam Land Conservancy to battle the impact of climate change in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley by establishing “urban forests.”
CSUN Partners with Fernandeño Tataviam Band to Build Urban Forests
Join the Santa Clarita Artists Association on Monday, April 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355, for the SCAA monthly meeting and guest demonstrator.
April 15: SCAA Presents Debbie Abshear Watercolor Demo
Residents are invited to join members of the Santa Clarita City Council for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the addition of Santa Clarita's 38th park, Skyline Ranch Park, 18355 Skyline Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, to the Santa Clarita parks system on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
April 6: Grand Opening for Santa Clarita’s 38th Park
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center is preparing for the annual fundraising event, Celebrity Waiter, with the theme “California Dreamin’” on Saturday, April 27 at Bella Vida, 27180 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Table Sponsorships Still Available for Celebrity Waiter Dinner
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Ken Striplin | A Fun, Festive, Egg-Filled Day
SCVNews.com