Proposition 13 costs too much for so little

Share: 42 percent of a $26 billion bond measure is way too much to pay in interest. That’s the real story behind the new (but not really improved) Proposition 13, the education bond measure on the March 3 ballot. Anyone familiar with the original Proposition 13, which was passed in 1978 will not recognize this one which, if passed, would stick California voters with a huge bill over the next 35 years. This year’s Proposition 13 will not be paid for with proposition taxes as …

Editorial: We are not ‘poor journalism students’

Share: Currently at Pasadena City College (PCC), there are multiple grants given to projects such as Zero-Textbook Cost and the Pathways program to tackle different barriers students often deal with in academics. While it is necessary to fund for these projects as it aids students in achieving higher education, the failure to fund the Journalism department, a rather small but very important department on campus, counteracts the idea of providing resources. In fact, it proves that there are areas on campus that aren’t being prioritized …

Board approves once in a lifetime budget

Share: The Board of Trustees unanimously adopted a “once in a lifetime” budget for the 2015-2016 year last Thursday which included significant one-time funding, on-going funds for full-time staff hires, and no new student fee increases. Assistant Superintendent Robert Miller explained the budget is unique due to the “sheer magnitude” of its revenues, which reach almost $150 million. Because of Governor Brown’s conservative approach to producing the state budget, the state’s actual general fund revenues greatly surpassed its estimates, creating one-time funding opportunities for schools. …

OP-ED: So Cal shouldn’t be pilot for VMT tax

Share: The Southern California Association of Governments recently passed a resolution asking Congress to replace the federal gasoline tax — which is 18.5 cents a gallon and hasn’t been raised in more than 20 years — with a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) tax by 2025 under the Regional Transportation Plan. The six counties under SCAG want to see Southern California become a pilot for the VMT program. Follow: