Locals rally to support Prop 55

Local school employees along with parents and students came together today in El Centro to hold a rally to support a yes vote on Prop 55.

The initiative would prevent $4 billion in cuts to public education.

A yes vote on prop 55 supports extending the personal income tax increase on incomes over $250,000 dollars, a no vote would oppose the continued tax increase and allow it to expire in 2019. Today people spoke on why it important to vote yes.”

“Healthier children mean healthier students I believe, wouldn’t you say? Let’s not fail our current students, let’s not fail our future students. A yes vote will insure that prop 55 funds are earmarked for local schools and children healthcare. When I heard that the legislature would not have no access to this funds, I was all in,” said Andre Harris, Education Center Coordinator, Southwestern College)

According to Ballotpedia, about 89 percent of revenue from the tax increase would go towards k-12 schools.

Eleven percent would go to state community colleges and an additional 2 billion would be allocated to medical and other health programs in certain years.

We are pleased to support prop 55 for so many reasons, not long ago our state was in in the midst of one of the worst recessions in our history, as a result crippling cuts had to be made to our public schools,” Said Juanita Salas, IVC Board Member.

Prop 55 would impact the 1.5 percent of Californians with a single income filing of at least $263,000.

Or a joint income filing at least $526,000.

Opposing arguments state that prop 55 is unnecessary saying education, healthcare, and state government can all be funded without new or higher taxes.

They also believe the proposition would hurt small businesses who often pay taxes on their business income through their personal tax return.

If proposition 55 passes it would continue the tax rates instituted by Prop 30 that was approved in 2012 till year 2030.