http://educationvotes.nea.org/2011/05/31/educators-fight-bill-that-would-%e2%80%9ccap%e2%80%9d-future-for-new-york-students/ Education Votes engages, recruits and informs activists in the fight for public education, higher education and strengthening the middle class. Mon, 20 May 2013 00:24:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://educationvotes.nea.org/2011/05/31/educators-fight-bill-that-would-%e2%80%9ccap%e2%80%9d-future-for-new-york-students/comment-page-1/#comment-12933 Teri Gruenwald Sat, 04 Jun 2011 23:29:32 +0000 http://www.educationvotes.nea.org/?p=5440#comment-12933 In California, we have a ridiculous 67% majority threshold in order to raise revenue at the local and state level. My school district lost a parcel tax election last month because of 31 votes. 66.47% of the voters voted on a $180.00 a year parcel tax ($.50 a day for 4 years, mind you), but we were .23% away from the 67% threshold. As a result, we will have 6 furlough days next year and our co-curricular stipends are slashed by 50%. This is devastating to our school district and this same story plays itself out all the time in California. This is definitely tyranny by the minority. It only takes a simple majority to cut taxes but a super majority to pass a tax.

]]> http://educationvotes.nea.org/2011/05/31/educators-fight-bill-that-would-%e2%80%9ccap%e2%80%9d-future-for-new-york-students/comment-page-1/#comment-12923 Ken Mortland Sat, 04 Jun 2011 16:08:05 +0000 http://www.educationvotes.nea.org/?p=5440#comment-12923 In Washington state, we had such a cap, but it was set high enough that proponents failed to restrict the growth as they had hoped. We also had the 60% rule applied to local excess levies (authorizations to exceed the tax mill limitations) to raise money to support maintenance and operations budgets and to pass bond issues. A few years back, we voted out the 60% rule on maintenance and operations levies and it now takes only a simple majority. The 60% rule still applies to bond issues to raise money for building and remodeling schools.

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