Larry Klein
Mayor
Murali Srinivasan
Vice Mayor
Russ Melton
Councilmember
Alysa Cisneros
Councilmember
Omar Din
Councilmember
Richard Mehlinger
Councilmember
Linda Sell
Councilmember
March 12, 2024
The Honorable John Laird, Chair
Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 1
1021 O Street, Suite 8720
Sacramento, CA 95814
RE: Educational Revenue Augmentation Fund: New Entitlements for Charter Schools – OPPOSE
Dear Senator Laird:
I am writing to express the City of Sunnyvale’s opposition to the Administration’s proposal to include charter schools as eligible for Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF). This proposal is in conflict with constitutional protections identified in Proposition 1A, which was enacted by the voters in 2004 to bar the Legislature from “reducing for any fiscal year the percentage of the total amount of ad valorem property tax revenues in a county that is allocated among all of the local agencies… ” Furthermore, it is not supported by the City of Sunnyvale Legislative Advocacy Position 7.0 B(3) which states the City shall “Oppose any legislation that reduces or erodes local revenues or local control.”
We understand the importance of education funding to our community. However, cities also play a critical role in ensuring a high-quality education for our communities through the provision of infrastructure and services that support healthy and safe learning. Specifically, we have used funding to modernize our support facilities for police, fire, and roads, working to bring up to date old and outdated facilities. This funding also supports our school resource officers who work directly in the schools, our neighborhood community centers and our library that provide safe spaces to learn for children before and after school. Funding also supports our summer learning programs, keeping them affordable and accessible for families, and enhances our partnerships with local school districts to address many needs. We also fund crossing guards which helps students safely walking and biking to school, reducing vehicle miles traveled in support of state environmental goals.
Attachment 3
~,,,~
""" =-
.., Sunnyvale
Hu,t of Silicon Valoy""
456 We<t Olive Avenue
Sumy-nle , CA 94088 3707
408 7JO 7473
~
The Honorable John Laird, Chair, Senate Budget Subcommittee March 12, 2024
For these reasons, based on existing City Policy, and holding true to the intent of voters in passing Proposition 1A, we OPPOSE the Administration’s proposal to clarify that charter schools are eligible for Educational Revenue Augmentation Funds (ERAF).
Please do not hesitate to contact me or Tim Kirby, Finance Director, at [email protected] or 408-730-7603, if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Larry Klein
Mayor
cc: The Honorable Gavin Newsom, Governor
The Honorable Aisha Wahab, State Senate
The Honorable Josh Becker, State Senate
The Honorable Evan Low, State Assembly
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
City Council
Kent Steffens, City Manager
Sarah Johnson-Rios, Assistant City Manager
Tim Kirby, Director of Finance
Attachment 3
~"~ W Sunnyvale