California investigating O.C.'s planned tax shift from schools - latimes.com

California investigating O.C.'s planned tax shift from schools - latimes.com:

California investigating O.C.'s planned tax shift from schools

Orange County officials intend to redirect $73.5 million from schools to balance the county's budget and pay bills. The county's schools chief says the move would be devastating to education.

• 
• 
• Comments

  2

• Share48

Students work on a math lesson at Romero-Cruz Elementary School in Santa Ana. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) By Nicole Santa Cruz, Los Angeles Times November 29, 2011, 11:29 p.m. The state is investigating whether Orange County political leaders will be breaking the law if they go forward with their plan to take $73.5 million in tax dollars that are supposed to go to local schools. County officials said they have no choice but to redirect the money in January and again in May to balance the county's budget and pay its bills. Without the tax dollars, the county might be forced to lay off hundreds of workers, close jails and cut care for indigent patients, said Bill Campbell, chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Orange County's schools chief, however, said the loss of the