06.02.09: Budget Conference Committee: Transportation
By David Walrath
The Budget Conference Committee will be reviewing Governor Schwarzenegger's May 29th proposal to cut home-to-school and special education transportation funding by more than $400 million, approximately 65%.
The following letter was delivered to the Budget Conference Committee yesterday:
June 1, 2009
The Honorable Darrell
Steinberg
Member, California State Senate
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814
State Budget: Home-to-School Transportation
Dear Senator Steinberg:
The Small School Districts’ Association (SSDA) requests that you reject the Governor’s May 29th proposal to cut Home-to-School Transportation funding by more than $400 million and approximately 65%. This reduction will not be equally distributed among school districts. On average, if it were equitably distributed, it would reduce funding by approximately $65 per pupil. However, for small rural school districts that are dependent upon Home-to-School Transportation for student attendance, these cuts will be significantly greater per pupil. Just using some school districts in the first few counties by alphabet:
- Alpine USD: greater than $900
reduction per pupil
- 122 students and the only school district for all of Alpine County
- Amador County USD: greater than
$200 reduction per pupil
- Only school district in Amador County
- Biggs USD: greater than $140
reduction per pupil
- Small rural agricultural school district
These reductions are in addition to the reductions these school districts will be taking for revenue limit and other categorical program cuts.
SSDA has identified more than $3 billion in new revenues and state General Fund expenditure reductions. SSDA urges the Legislature to consider these revenues and expenditure reductions instead of making this inequitable cut to school district Home-to-School Transportation.
Thank you for your consideration.
