California Agricultural       Teachers' Association  Executive Director's Update

May 21, 2008

Budget Update / May Revise

Impact on Agricultural Education

Over the past several days, the scope and impact of the Governor’s latest budget proposal contained within the May Revise has become much clearer. Unfortunately for Agricultural Education and the majority of other categorical programs in the budget, the news is not positive. Although many news sources reported that Proposition 98 guarantees had been restored within the education portion of the Governor’s budget, the restoration of funding did not extend to the programs contained within the categorical funding area. This would, of course, include the most important funding source for Agricultural Education in California, the Agricultural Education Incentive Grant program.

Here are the latest Agricultural Education Incentive Grant numbers per the May Revise:

January Budget Proposal, including statutory COLA adjustment - $5.43 million

Current 2007-08 Funding Level - $5.201 million

May Revise Proposal for 2008-09 funding – $4.838 million

This represents a 10.9% reduction in funding for next year compared to the original budget allocation contained in the January budget. It also represents a $363,000 reduction from current 2007-08 funding.

Even more troubling is a proposal contained within the May Revise that would allow local districts to redirect up to 50% of the funds from the Agricultural Education Incentive Grant to other programs such as Home-to-School Transportation, Gifted and Talented Education, or any other program in the Mega-Item category. This is especially troubling since the application for Incentive Grant funds requires a matching effort by local districts. In effect, this reduction would hit Agricultural Education programs twice, since the transfer of Incentive Grant funds away from their program would most assuredly by followed by a reduction in district funding as well. It is important to note that the districts most pressured by demands to their Home-to-School Transportation budgets and therefore most likely to redirect Incentive Grant funds are districts in rural areas of California – where the majority of Agricultural Education programs are located. In other words, Agricultural Education programs are about to be thrown under the wheels of school buses throughout California, powered by diesel fuel purchased with Agricultural Education Incentive Grant funds. How ironic.

Obviously, negotiations are ongoing within the Capitol which will determine the extent to which these cuts are implemented. We have been in contact with the Governor’s staff, as well as legislative leaders, who have been briefed on these issues. We now need your help and assistance in reaching out to every member of the legislature to ensure that they understand and appreciate the impact of these proposals.

Please take a few moments today to contact your Senator and Assembly Member to ask them to support continued funding for Agricultural Education in California, and to resist allowing the wholesale redirection of funds away from these important programs. The ability of California’s agricultural industry to remain competitive and vibrant in the future is dependent on the next generation of agricultural leaders sitting in our classrooms today. Putting at risk over 50% of the funds that currently support those efforts in Agricultural Education is both short-sighted and counterproductive to our state’s economic vitality. The proposed budget cuts, combined with the redirection of 50% of Incentive Grant funds would simply devastate Ag Education in California.

We would also ask that you share this information with Advisory Committee Members, Ag Booster Members, Industry Supporters, Parents, and others who are supportive of Agricultural Education and who would be willing to contact their representatives in Sacramento. We sincerely appreciate your efforts in getting the word out to our supporters.

The most convenient way to access contact information for your local representative is to log on to www.leginfo.ca.gov , click on “your legislator”, enter your zip code, and hit “search”. It is important to note that e-mails and letters need to be completed and sent in a timely manner, as the budget negotiation process is now underway within the Capitol.

Again, we appreciate your assistance. Please do not hesitate to contact the CATA office if you have any questions regarding this important issue.