USCS - CANEC

06/07/2003

CANEC is pleased to share this update on the recent budget work in Sacramento.

The Budget Conference Committee is aggressively working to resolve the differences between the Senate and Assembly versions of the budget bill, working late Wednesday and Thursday nights and most of Friday. The committee consists of:

Senator Wesley Chesbro, Co-chair (D-Arcata)
Senator Dick Ackerman (R-Irvine)
Senator Dede Alpert (D-Coronado)
Assemblymember Jenny Oropeza, Co-chair (D-Long Beach)
Assemblymember John Campbell (R-Irvine)
Assemblymember Darrel Steinberg (D-Sacramento)

Budget Committee staff will be working all day Saturday to reconcile the work done in the last few days. The Committee itself will start work again Sunday afternoon.

The "Big Five" (Governor Davis, Senator John Burton, Senator Jim Brulte, Assemblyman Herb Wesson and Assemblyman David Cox) will also be playing a significant role in the budget process. Most of their work will occur behind closed doors where they will most likely craft the agreements concerning the most difficult and politically sensitive issues (i.e. tax increases, spending caps). A budget package that can win the approval of two thirds of both the Senate and Assembly is required.

Two weeks ago we warned you that the estimate to fund the charter school block grant for the current year was too low to cover the costs of all charter school students. As a result of the hard work of a number of people, we are pleased to inform you that there is a proposal by the Department of Education to fund these deficits. The problem of a deficit for the budget year is not resolved and we are working hard on this tough issue. More information will follow as the budget process continues.

The charter school community must still remain very vigilant during this budget process. If your school year is ending, please register to receive these listserv announcements at your home e-mail address over the summer. To do this, go to www.canec.org and choose Register to Participate in the lower right hand corner of the screen.

We anticipate continued non-stop activity on the budget through June. It remains entirely possible that CANEC will need to call on you with virtually no notice in the near future for letters and phone calls. Should charter schools be faced with the possibility of disproportionate funding cuts, we will immediately need your help in making our representatives aware that the charter community is following their actions.

Please continue to check your e-mail DAILY until Governor Davis has signed the budget. We continue to actively follow all phases of budget negotiations, but much of the work takes place behind closed doors and at all hours of the day and night. We will give you the greatest notice possible should we hear of any new threats to charter schools' funding and will continue to provide you with routine updates on budget issues as actions occur.

Helen Wallquist
Advocacy Coordinator, CANEC
916-798-0965
wallquist@canec.org


	Budget Update as of June 6, 2003 - No bad news yet! 06/07/2003 CANEC is pleased to share this update on the recent budget work in Sacramento. The Budget Conference Committee is aggressively working to resolve the differences between the Senate and Assembly versions of the budget bill, working late Wednesday and Thursday nights and most of Friday. The committee consists of: Senator Wesley Chesbro, Co-chair (D-Arcata) Senator Dick Ackerman (R-Irvine) Senator Dede Alpert (D-Coronado) Assemblymember Jenny Oropeza, Co-chair (D-Long Beach) Assemblymember John Campbell (R-Irvine) Assemblymember Darrel Steinberg (D-Sacramento) Budget Committee staff will be working all day Saturday to reconcile the work done in the last few days. The Committee itself will start work again Sunday afternoon. The "Big Five" (Governor Davis, Senator John Burton, Senator Jim Brulte, Assemblyman Herb Wesson and Assemblyman David Cox) will also be playing a significant role in the budget process. Most of their work will occur behind closed doors where they will most likely craft the agreements concerning the most difficult and politically sensitive issues (i.e. tax increases, spending caps). A budget package that can win the approval of two thirds of both the Senate and Assembly is required. Two weeks ago we warned you that the estimate to fund the charter school block grant for the current year was too low to cover the costs of all charter school students. As a result of the hard work of a number of people, we are pleased to inform you that there is a proposal by the Department of Education to fund these deficits. The problem of a deficit for the budget year is not resolved and we are working hard on this tough issue. More information will follow as the budget process continues. The charter school community must still remain very vigilant during this budget process. If your school year is ending, please register to receive these listserv announcements at your home e-mail address over the summer. To do this, go to www.canec.org and choose Register to Participate in the lower right hand corner of the screen. We anticipate continued non-stop activity on the budget through June. It remains entirely possible that CANEC will need to call on you with virtually no notice in the near future for letters and phone calls. Should charter schools be faced with the possibility of disproportionate funding cuts, we will immediately need your help in making our representatives aware that the charter community is following their actions. Please continue to check your e-mail DAILY until Governor Davis has signed the budget. We continue to actively follow all phases of budget negotiations, but much of the work takes place behind closed doors and at all hours of the day and night. We will give you the greatest notice possible should we hear of any new threats to charter schools' funding and will continue to provide you with routine updates on budget issues as actions occur. Helen Wallquist Advocacy Coordinator, CANEC 916-798-0965 wallquist@canec.org