No End in Sight for School Budget Cuts
Updated: 14 hours 43 minutes ago
(March 21) -- Last year was not a good year for anyone's wallet. But the recession is taking an extraordinary toll on school systems, as sweeping budgets cuts are enacted in cities and states nationwide. Experts say the budget crisis will be felt acutely this year and that it might only be the beginning.
Education budgets are closely tied to property taxes, leading some to predict more of the same in the years ahead.
"Education is accustomed to growing every year. Even leveling off is seen as a kind of death threat," Chester E. Finn Jr., president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute educational think-tank, told AOL News. "What's going on now is unprecedented in the last few decades."
Many states and cities have already made drastic changes. California's education budget was cut by $17 billion over the past two years and will be cut another $2.4 billion this year. As of Thursday, more than 23,500 pink slips had been handed out to school employees.
In November, the California regents voted to increase tuition at the state's universities by 32 percent, leading to student protests on campuses across the state. Similar hikes under consideration in several other states led to a nationwide day of student protest March 4. In Georgia, the regents first considered a 77 percent tuition increase but dropped the proposed hike to 35 percent in early March.
In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie announced this week that next year's budget would reduce total
Education budgets are closely tied to property taxes, leading some to predict more of the same in the years ahead.
"Education is accustomed to growing every year. Even leveling off is seen as a kind of death threat," Chester E. Finn Jr., president of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute educational think-tank, told AOL News. "What's going on now is unprecedented in the last few decades."
Many states and cities have already made drastic changes. California's education budget was cut by $17 billion over the past two years and will be cut another $2.4 billion this year. As of Thursday, more than 23,500 pink slips had been handed out to school employees.
In November, the California regents voted to increase tuition at the state's universities by 32 percent, leading to student protests on campuses across the state. Similar hikes under consideration in several other states led to a nationwide day of student protest March 4. In Georgia, the regents first considered a 77 percent tuition increase but dropped the proposed hike to 35 percent in early March.
In New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie announced this week that next year's budget would reduce total