Tax inequality hurts community colleges

By Reva Kale, Berkeley| 1/22/2023

Re. “State must reverse community college enrollment decline,” Page A6, Jan. 11:

As a student in California, I am well aware that our public universities and community colleges are suffering from a significant lack of funding.

California community colleges are our state’s most important resource, and provide countless students with the ability to access higher education, close achievement gaps and secure a better future for their families. However, because of Proposition 13 our community colleges lack millions of dollars in funding that could be used to reach, retain and educate the future of our state.

While companies like Chevron pocket heavy tax breaks our community colleges, especially those in already under-resourced districts, are left behind. If this trend continues, our state’s excellent community college system is in danger of losing more and more students.