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Dear Representative, I write to you with an urgent request on behalf of over 5 million students in California. I strongly request you use some of the state’s projected budget surplus to support public education. By allocating about $9 Billion of the state’s budget surplus to raising the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) base grant for all students, you will raise California’s per-student expenditure to $12,542. I applaud the unprecedented investment of funds for public education, yet the new funds do not meet the ongoing needs of all students. First, ongoing funds, not one-time dollars are necessary in order to provide budget stability and operational support for a successful future in education. Second, nearly all the ongoing funding beyond the 5.33% COLA, is restricted and specifically directed dollars. Third, new funding distribution is uneven due to criteria or formulas intended to achieve specific policy goals. These goals are significant but have entirely overlooked the looming fiscal crisis brought about by the lack of attention to LCFF base funding. The current base-level funding used to keep the lights on, staff compensated, and the school doors open has not been given adequate attention in the years since the great recession. Despite considerable targeted-fund investments in elementary and secondary education, many school districts lack the necessary funding to maintain budget stability and the essential operational support for our public schools (according to the Fiscal Crisis Management Assistance Team FCMAT). Those conditions threaten the fiscal solvency of districts over time. Increased LCFF base grant funding will help maintain budget stability. As the world’s 5th largest economy and the nation’s 10th per capita taxing state, California must do better in providing a well-funded, adequate and appropriate public school education for every child. The time is now! We must Raise the Base! Sincerely,

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