From the Capitol
Historic budget deal protects classified jobs
Historic budget deal protects classified jobs
Just over a month ago, California schools were facing deep cuts to next year’s state budget due to a significant projected decline in state revenues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor’s May budget revision proposed a 10 percent cut to public education, which could have led to thousands of potential layoffs for classified employees.
Throughout recent budget negotiations, CSEA served as a strong advocate for saving classified jobs and protecting the safety of students and staff. Our Governmental Relations team worked closely with leaders in the State Legislature to find a solution. Ultimately, a deal was reached between the Legislature and the governor that restored education funding for this budget cycle and, for the first time in California history, included specific language to prevent classified employee layoffs.
“We did this not only to protect your jobs, but because we all know that for schools to reopen safely and effectively during this pandemic we will need every classified employee,” said Association President Ben Valdepeña.
The budget deal includes what is called "legislative intent language" that states no district, no county office of education and no college should lay off any of their classified staff for financial reasons. While this language does not carry the full weight of law, it does send a clear directive to administrators that the legislature intends state funding to be used to keep all existing classified staff fully employed.
“We did this not only to protect your jobs, but because we all know that for schools to reopen safely and effectively during this pandemic we will need every classified employee.”
CSEA had advocated for strict protections for all classifications and kept fighting for all of our members up until the moment a budget deal was made. Ultimately, the legislative leaders, who championed full protection for all classified employees, had to compromise to reach common ground with the governor's office and chose to include layoff protection for three classifications: food service staff, transportation staff and custodial or facility maintenance staff, which are typically the most vulnerable to layoffs. The decision to protect only these three classifications was theirs, not ours. CSEA fought for protecting every classification to the very end.
“Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon championed our cause to protect classified employees,” Valdepeña said. “We are incredibly thankful to Speaker Rendon for his efforts, and we are also appreciative of the support of the Governor and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins for protecting classified staff.”
Just over a month ago, California schools were facing deep cuts to next year’s state budget due to a significant projected decline in state revenues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor’s May budget revision proposed a 10 percent cut to public education, which could have led to thousands of potential layoffs for classified employees.
Throughout recent budget negotiations, CSEA served as a strong advocate for saving classified jobs and protecting the safety of students and staff. Our Governmental Relations team worked closely with leaders in the State Legislature to find a solution. Ultimately, a deal was reached between the Legislature and the governor that restored education funding for this budget cycle and, for the first time in California history, included specific language to prevent classified employee layoffs.
“We did this not only to protect your jobs, but because we all know that for schools to reopen safely and effectively during this pandemic we will need every classified employee,” said Association President Ben Valdepeña.
The budget deal includes what is called "legislative intent language" that states no district, no county office of education and no college should lay off any of their classified staff for financial reasons. While this language does not carry the full weight of law, it does send a clear directive to administrators that the legislature intends state funding to be used to keep all existing classified staff fully employed.
“We did this not only to protect your jobs, but because we all know that for schools to reopen safely and effectively during this pandemic we will need every classified employee.”
CSEA had advocated for strict protections for all classifications and kept fighting for all of our members up until the moment a budget deal was made. Ultimately, the legislative leaders, who championed full protection for all classified employees, had to compromise to reach common ground with the governor's office and chose to include layoff protection for three classifications: food service staff, transportation staff and custodial or facility maintenance staff, which are typically the most vulnerable to layoffs. The decision to protect only these three classifications was theirs, not ours. CSEA fought for protecting every classification to the very end.
“Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon championed our cause to protect classified employees,” Valdepeña said. “We are incredibly thankful to Speaker Rendon for his efforts, and we are also appreciative of the support of the Governor and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins for protecting classified staff.”
K-12 EDUCATION
- No COLA, But No Cuts. In comparison to the May Revision proposal, this budget provides no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) given the projected tax revenue drop, but there is also no 10 percent cut across the board. The budget keeps the LCFF funding at 2019–20 levels.
- ADA Hold Harmless Provision. The budget provides an average daily attendance (ADA) hold harmless provision for 2020–21 that relies on adjusted ADA for 2019–20. This means that local educational agencies (LEAs) should be getting roughly the same level of funding as the prior year.
- Distance Learning. There’s budget language requiring districts to implement procedures for distance learning, including a plan to help students who are absent from distance learning for more than three days.
- Deferrals. The budget will defer a total of $12.9 billion of apportionment over three years. This allows for one-time savings at the state level and avoids funding cuts for schools and community colleges. What are deferrals? Deferrals are late payments for certain months to be paid in the next fiscal year. For example, the state delayed sending the June 2020 payment until July 2020. This one-month delay creates one-time savings in the prior year. The deferrals could be reduced if Congress provides additional funding to states.
COMMUNITY COLLEGES
- Student Centered Funding Formula (SCFF). Similar to K-12 education, the Budget provides no COLA, but no 10 percent cut as proposed in the May Revision to the SCFF. There is also no funding for enrollment growth. Additionally, the language in SB 116 provides a hold-harmless for the full-time equivalent student count and extends the apportionment hold-harmless by two years.