As we inch closer to Nov. 6, City College faculty and students keep their fingers crossed, in hopes that Proposition 30 will pass legislation.

Without the proposition, the college faces a cut of over 200 sections of curriculum for the spring and summer terms, and a loss of over 1,000 students in enrollment.

“It is an extremely important proposition to pass,” said Geneva Sherman, president of the associated student senate. “The repercussions if it fails are going to be really painful for the students.”

Proposition 30, the Schools & Local Public Safety Protection Act, will temporarily increase personal income taxes on those with incomes over $250,000 per year and increase sales tax by a quarter-cent for four years.

“This semester was already extremely hard to get classes; there were 20 crashers in most of my classes and only about three got in,” said Sherman.  “For education in general, higher education and K through 12, meeting educational goals is going to get harder and harder if things like Proposition 30 don’t pass.”

On Thursday, Oct. 11, the Santa Barbara Independent endorsed Prop 30 in an editorial, stating, “If Proposition 30 fails in November, the sky will fall.”

In another editorial, the Santa Barbara News-Press did not endorse the proposition.

The News-Press states, “California must get its spending problem in order and stop punishing the hard-working people of the state. Any additional tax is just an excuse to keep going down the same over-spending road.”

Primary opponents of Prop 30 include the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, an organization dedicated to promoting California taxpayer’s rights.

The association believes the proposition is flawed and does not guarantee funding for public schools. They argue that Prop 30 will “destroy small businesses; kill jobs and includes no reform.”

“The main objection you hear is that the money isn’t really going to go to schools,” said David Morris, assistant professor in the history department.  “There is a tremendous cynicism about the ability of our state government to actually follow through on its promise and deliver money to the schools.”

If Prop 30 passes, Sherman is excited to see students at City College able to meet their goals.

“If students aren’t getting the classes they need, then their not able to transfer or get their degrees,” she said.  “It’s important that students get their classes so they can move on and get where they need to go.”

Recent poll results have Prop 30 at a 50 percent approval rating.