Brown’s Bond Bookkeeping Plan Would Cut Billions From Schools

California students from kindergarten to community college may have funding curtailed for years to come under Governor Jerry Brown’s plan to cut education spending if voters reject $7 billion in tax increases.

California’s constitution requires the state to devote a minimum percentage of its budget to education. Brown’s plan would, for the first time, count debt service on school bonds toward meeting that requirement. The bookkeeping change, taking account of more than $31 billion in debt, would reduce the state’s obligation for classroom spending by $2.4 billion next year alone.