Volume I, No. 5

December 4, 2008

California school finance is in for a wild ride over the next 18 months; Education’s Bottom Line provides information regarding the State Budget along with other pertinent information on issues affecting school districts.  

Lottery Sales Drop

By David Walrath -- dwalrath@m-w-h.com

The State Lottery has reported an almost 10 percent decline in lottery ticket sales for the July through October time period.  This means school districts should prepare for a similar percent decline in the anticipated 2008-09 lottery allocation to schools.

Legislature Convenes For Next Session

By David Walrath -- dwalrath@m-w-h.com

California Senate President pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg announced his priorities for the first half of the new legislative session. He outlined an aggressive agenda for the first 120-days of this session and for the budget adoption process. He called for a Committee of the Whole, where every Senator is a member of the Budget Committee with a meaningful budget subcommittee assignment. He set a budget passage timeline of May 15, 2009. more...

Budget and Initiative Reform Constitutional Amendments Proposed

By David Walrath -- dwalrath@m-w-h.com

The Senate and Assembly have proposed a series of budget and initiative reform Constitutional Amendments.    more...

Deferred Maintenance Program Funding At-Risk

By Ian Padilla -- ipadilla@m-w-h.com

To address California’s most recent budget deficit that emerged after the signing of the 2008-09 State Budget, the Governor and particularly the Legislature are considering proposals that would further cut spending for programs and increase taxes. The Deferred Maintenance Program (DMP) funding is in jeopardy.    more...

If you have any questions on the articles in this newsletter, please contact the author of the article in question.

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Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes (MWH) has been instrumental in shaping statewide policy and implementing regulations for K-12 schools for more than two decades.  Strategic relationships have been forged with the State Administration through agencies such as the Department of Education, the State Allocation Board, the Department of Finance and the Office of Public School Construction and, on the federal level, with key Congressional Members and the Executive Branch.  MWH prides itself on having some of the best minds in K-12 education in virtually all aspects of school fiscal needs. 

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