Billionaires living in California made enormous profits in 2021. (Duh!) But at least they had to pay a small percentage of those profits as taxes, and because of Prop 98 that means a large increase in funding to education this year. Part of this funding is added to the LCFF— the basic, permanent money each district gets from the state. 

Districts over two years have gotten a 15.9% increase in LCFF— in permanent, basic funding.  Sounds promising— until you look at inflation, which was 14.3% for the same period of time.

LCFF            7/21  2.7% x 7/22 12.9% = 15.9%  

BUT inflation   7/21 8.5% x 7/22 5.4%= 14.3%

If we get less than 14.3% we fall behind.  And every district has the money from LCFF to do that. But will our locals demand it? Will we demand it?

Don’t let the districts talk about “other costs”— everything can go up by 15.9%.  Custodians and clerks, supplies and books, and, yes, outrageous administrative salaries, can all go up.  Special Education got an additional permanent increase. There are additional funds for after-school and summer school. 

So to all of those whose contracts are expiring or expired: ASK BIG—OR FALL BEHIND!     David de Leeuw, OEA retired