Educators in California rallied outside the district offices of Sen. John Laird and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, urging them to fully fund Proposition 98 as the state faces a budget deficit of nearly $3 billion. In 2025, the administration withheld $1.9 billion from Prop 98 funding to help close the state’s budget deficit, and educators claim another $3.9 billion could be withheld this year. According to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget revision, the administration projected a $2.9 billion deficit for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. “We need the funding. The kiddos deserve that funding. The educators deserve that funding, and they need to look at finding how to cover that deficit elsewhere,” said Rolan Resendiz. The California Teachers Association, along with educators across the county, delivered an in-person statement to the staff of Laird and Rivas, demanding full funding for Prop 98. “Salina City Elementary School will lose $5 million if the $3.9 billion isn’t put fully into our funding for this next school year, and our high school district will lose $10 million,” VanessaProp 98, passed by voters in 1988, funds art programs, music education, extracurricular activities, and other resources for K-12 public schools and community colleges. Assembly Speaker Rivas responded in a statement, saying, “The Assembly voted to pass a budget with $2.7 billion more for classrooms, and lawmakers are negotiating with the Governor to make sure schools get every cent they’re owed.” Sen. Laird also issued a statement, saying, “The Senate budget proposal fully paid off the Prop 98 settle-up obligation, and I fought hard for that position. The final budget negotiations produced a different result, but my view has not changed. We made a commitment to our schools, and I believe we should meet it.” “I hope that what he can bring back is the voice of the educators who see the faces of our students every day and be able to translate that into why this money is needed. Now, our students of today need the dollars of today, not over a timeline,” one educator said. According to the California Teachers Association’s Prop 98 funding loss calculator, Monterey County schools are at risk of losing over $48 million, Santa Cruz County schools could lose over $22 million, and San Benito County schools face a potential $4 million loss. Educators emphasized that these funds are vital not only for educating students but also for maintaining school resources and safety. They hope their efforts will influence lawmakers to find alternative solutions to address the state’s budget shortfall.
SALINAS, Calif. —
Educators in California rallied outside the district offices of Sen. John Laird and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, urging them to fully fund Proposition 98 as the state faces a budget deficit of nearly $3 billion.
In 2025, the administration withheld $1.9 billion from Prop 98 funding to help close the state’s budget deficit, and educators claim another $3.9 billion could be withheld this year. According to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s budget revision, the administration projected a $2.9 billion deficit for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
“We need the funding. The kiddos deserve that funding. The educators deserve that funding, and they need to look at finding how to cover that deficit elsewhere,” said Rolan Resendiz.
The California Teachers Association, along with educators across the county, delivered an in-person statement to the staff of Laird and Rivas, demanding full funding for Prop 98.
“Salina City Elementary School will lose $5 million if the $3.9 billion isn’t put fully into our funding for this next school year, and our high school district will lose $10 million,” Vanessa
Prop 98, passed by voters in 1988, funds art programs, music education, extracurricular activities, and other resources for K-12 public schools and community colleges.
Assembly Speaker Rivas responded in a statement, saying, “The Assembly voted to pass a budget with $2.7 billion more for classrooms, and lawmakers are negotiating with the Governor to make sure schools get every cent they’re owed.”
Sen. Laird also issued a statement, saying, “The Senate budget proposal fully paid off the Prop 98 settle-up obligation, and I fought hard for that position. The final budget negotiations produced a different result, but my view has not changed. We made a commitment to our schools, and I believe we should meet it.”
“I hope that what he can bring back is the voice of the educators who see the faces of our students every day and be able to translate that into why this money is needed. Now, our students of today need the dollars of today, not over a timeline,” one educator said.
According to the California Teachers Association’s Prop 98 funding loss calculator, Monterey County schools are at risk of losing over $48 million, Santa Cruz County schools could lose over $22 million, and San Benito County schools face a potential $4 million loss.
Educators emphasized that these funds are vital not only for educating students but also for maintaining school resources and safety. They hope their efforts will influence lawmakers to find alternative solutions to address the state’s budget shortfall.