Communicating with Students on Prop 30

As you likely are aware, the stakes in the November elections are particularly high for education in California, including for the UC system.  Proposition 30 will stabilize education budgets and ward off severe mid-year cuts and tuition increases, but it is currently polling with a very slim lead.  It is essential that we all work to educate our friends and family about this initiative, but also our students.   

The University provides guidelines on what is acceptable political communication with students here:http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/senate/resources/InstitutionalAdvocacy_SenateHighlights.pdf
Because the Regents have endorsed Prop 30, it can be discussed during work time, including during class.  You cannot urge a vote one way or the other, but you can discuss Prop 30's impact on UC without having to present both sides of the argument.  You can also distribute informational fliers about it, but not using university resources.  Please print and post this flier outside your office.

Please also e-mail your students and post on your course webpages this link to an easy on-line voter registration form: https://rtv.sos.ca.gov/elections/register-to-vote/ The deadline to register to vote is October 22.  Please do not include ballot information when you send this link.

Most importantly, please consider making a brief presentation to your classes on Proposition 30.  We've provided a sample rap with some talking points below.  You can deliver this critical information in less than 2 minutes at the beginning of class. If you want more information than we've provided below, please visit this website.  

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Hello class, 

Before we get started today, I want to briefly bring to your attention an initiative that will be on the ballot in November that has very serious implications for the quality and cost of education at UC this year.  When Governor Brown was elected, he said he wouldn't raise taxes without a vote of the people.  That vote is on Proposition 30, and without it UC faces devastating cuts.
Here are some facts on Proposition 30:

• Prop 30 will raise 6-9 billion dollars per year for seven years, much of this money will be spent on education
• If the measure fails to pass, the UC Regents have already discussed a 20% mid-year tuition increase this year
• A 20% tuition increase is about $2400, bringing your total tuition to over $14,000 per year

• If the measure fails to pass, Governor Brown will cut State funding for UC by $250 million, this is in addition to nearly $800 million in cuts recent years. 
• If the measure passes, Governor Brown has promised no cuts, and to give UC an additional $125 million from the state, so a total of $375 million is on the line for UC's budget if Prop 30 doesn't pass.  

• If Prop 30 doesn't pass, the reduced budget will likely mean fewer courses offered, reduced library hours, staff and lecturer layoffs, and other significant reductions to the quality of education at UC. 

So, here's how Prop 30 will raise these badly needed funds:

• Income tax will increase by 1% on individual earnings over $250,000, or $500,000 per couple, by 2% on individuals over $300K or $600K per couple, and 3% on taxable earnings over $500k per individual or over $1 million per couple
• This means that income below $250,000 will be taxed at the existing rate, with individual income above 250K taxed at an additional 1%, scaling up to a 3% increase on income over 1 million for couples.   
• Prop 30 also passes an increase in sales tax of 1/4 of 1% for the next four years

As you can see from these numbers, passage or failure of Prop 30 will have huge consequences for UC, as well as K-12 and the community colleges.  Please reach out to your parents, family members and friends about Proposition 30 and discuss its importance to education in California.