California Gov. Jerry Brown is proposing to maintain nearly $500 million in bus funding for next year, but would pull the plug on the funding the year after, in 2013-2014.
School transportation funds faced a midyear reduction on Jan. 1 and a complete zeroing out next year, as part of budget cuts implemented to curb the state’s $9.3 billion deficit.
Under pressure from education leaders, the state passed legislation last week to restore the bus funds for the remainder of this school year, and, instead, make a deeper cut to general education funding for districts across the state.
Now, the amount of districts’ bus funding will be secure for one more year, but they will no longer be required to use it just for busing. The plan is contingent on a tax initiative on the November ballot.
Gov. Brown’s latest proposals are under negotiation in the legislature. The state is supposed to adopt its official budget for next year by July.
