Lobby Day January 2012 in Sacramento for Rio Hondo College

Lobby Day in State Capitol for Rio Hondo College. Legislative Agenda:

1) Support Balanced Approach to Budget n Support Temp Tax Initiative on Nov ballot.
2) OPPOSE cuts to CalWorks for transitional families that would eliminate students from a life of self sufficiency.
3) SUPPORT Increase in Course Offerings by allowing college to plan budgets in Jan not July if initiative passes
4) OPPOSE cuts n elimination if child-care sites at colleges that will devastate student families n child-care students.
5) OPPOSE cuts and increase of GPA for CalGrants that will eliminate over 240 students at Rio Hondo College.
6) SUPPORT Guarantee of tax n fee revenues in Budget.
And other issues.
7) Support Governors Temporary Tax Initiative on November Ballot.

at California State Capitol.

Temporary Tax Inititative on State Ballot in November

Sacramento,Jan.31, 2012: Community College League of California Endorses Governor’s Temporary Tax Measure

Following over $789 million in state funding cuts to community colleges over the last three years, the Community College League of California has endorsed Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to increase the sales tax by 1/2 cent and increase marginal tax rates on high income earners temporarily to avoid even more devastating cuts. The unanimous position was taken by thirty-six members of the League’s policy boards representing chief executive officers and locally elected trustees from the League’s 72 district members.

Rio Hondo College - No Class Cuts! Holding the line.- Whittier Daily News

Community college, CSU chancellors predict more cuts and higher fees - Whittier Daily News

Rio Hondo College is one of the ONLY community colleges in California that has NOT cut classes, furloughed employees, laid-off faculty & staff, nor cut services and programs. Why? We saved reserves, practiced fiscal discipline, and kept our administration lean as the impending budget crises approached. The crisis was no secret but we had to prepare, we did and now we are able to offer more classes and services than most community colleges.

We are fairing very well compared to other community colleges, local schools and cities. Little Lake School District laid-off a great amount teachers and staff, increased class size, cut programs and services, and increased the cost of children’s school lunches. The City of Santa Ana has cut so many employees and residential services that they have even cannibalized their Community Developed Department seizing funds to pay debt.

At Rio Hondo College, due to our fiscal preparedness and responsibility, we were able to hire 13 faculty and 35 staff in 2011 to serve students. In addition, our $300 million dollar building program has employed over 300 local skilled-workers and professionals to build our new facilities.

Things may get tougher, but we will be diligent, prudent and discilpined in the coming budget cycles. It comes down to our mission, serve students.