The LAUSD budget has been cut by about $2 billion over the last four years. Superintendent John Deasy and California Governor Jerry Brown have both introduced tax proposals for the November ballot to balance out this deficit. 

In last year’s budget, the district lost about $38 million in transportation funding due to cuts triggered by lower than expected tax revenues.

LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy has proposed a 2012 tax increase that will give LAUSD about an additional $237 million in state funding. His proposed tax would be on the same ballot as Gov. Jerry Brown’s state proposal to raise income tax on those making $250,000 or more a year. Deasy suggested to the board of education the possibility of putting a $270 yearly parcel tax before voters on the November ballot to help raise money for schools. If not, K-12 education would be cut by $4.8 billion.

History teacher Soni Lloyd agrees with the proposal. “State taxes are highly regressive, a progressive tax in California would help solve the problem.”

A regressive tax is one that takes a larger percentage from low-income people than from high-income people. A progressive tax is one that takes a larger percentage from the income of high-income earners than it does from low-income individuals. Both of the tax proposals will be progressive. 

They still face major hurdles, though. California is 43rd in the nation based on the amount of money it spends per student each year.