The sales tax won't increase until the votes are certified next month. Income tax increases on the wealthy are retroactive on income earned this year. But, schools won't see that money until June.
"It's no more money, but it stops the bleeding," said Christine Lizardi Frazier, Kern County Superintendent of Schools.
In Kern County, that bleeding would have been $80 million if Proposition 30 didn't pass. Lizardi-Frazier said that would have meant some of the 47 districts in the county would have had to reduce their school year by as much as 18 days.
Schools will get their money. The largest school district in the area, the Kern High School District, will get the $11 million they were promised. The second biggest, Bakersfield City School District, will get $12 million. School officials said the community won't see drastic changes, but you won't see cuts.
"It's not what you are going to see. It's what you're not going to see. You're not going to see kids out of school in May. You're not going to see programs cut," said Lizardi-Frazier. "You are not going to see the laying off of teachers."
Schools won't get the money from the state until June. However, taxpayers will be charged much sooner. The state sales tax will go up .25 percent as soon as the ballots are certified. But, keep in mind this is a temporary sales tax increase.
"It's a four-year tax so there's a beginning and an end, " said Lizardi-Frazier. "So, we hope this is just a temporary, getting us through this time."
Income tax on the wealthy will be applied retroactively to all income earned since the first of this year and will be in place for seven years. Prop. 30 is expected to raise $6 billion.
Opponents are still skeptical the money will be spent responsibly.
"You really don't know," said Michael Turnipseed, Kern Taxpayers Association. "There have been promises made, but nothing is guaranteed. There's no accountability and most of the schools have already budgeted for it not passing."
Experts recommend you make big purchases now because once the sales tax increase goes into effect next month, buying something like a $40,000 car will cost you about $100 more.
