Proposition 30 and Proposition 38 are competing solutions to the same problem in California. Both propose to increase taxes to fund public schools. 

Prop. 30, initiated by Gov. Jerry Brown, does so by temporarily raising tax on the wealthiest Californians and sales tax. But the billions raied from higher sales and income taxes wouldn't mean a guaranteed increased funding for schools. Prop. 38, produced by civil rights attorney Molly Munger and the state PTA, would increase income tax on most Californians. It would prohibit Sacramento from touching the new revenues and would guarantee billions of dollars to local schools based on enrollment.

Neon Tommy on Monday talked to parents of students attending Pasadena's John Muir High School, which is Munger's alma mater.

Angela Thompson is on disability. She has cancer. She works for a credit union. Her son, Kamen Thompson, 15, is a 10th grader at John Muir High School. She is going to vote for Prop. 30 and Barack Obama on Election Day. 

Angela Thompson never misses a vote since she was eligible to vote. (Gracie Zheng/Neon Tommy)

We’re Democrats. I’m pretty strict with the party line. 

I think it (Prop. 30) has legitimate backing with the governor and the Democratic Party. Other people that I’ve talked to know this would be something to help the schools. Proposition 38? I’m just not so sure about it. 

My son is in the Engineering Academy. He is fifteen now. He is going to be sixteen in the summer. He may even get a paid internship in engineering through people at JPL and other engineering places around here. 

There are a lot of opportunities for the public school, but I think if the funds are not available some of the opportunities they have are not going to be available to the kids. It saddens me. They should have the same opportunities as if you’re going to a private school. 

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Lisset Nerey, a stay-at-home mom, has a son and a daughter who are both 10th graders at John Muir High school. She supports Prop. 38. 

Lisset Nerey supports Prop. 38 as she thinks the government shouldn't be able to touch funding for schools. (Gracie Zheng/Neon Tommy)

The government shouldn’t be able to try to touch the funding for any of the schools. Proposition 38 would be a good thing that the government doesn’t have to touch the funding. 

My oldest son he struggles for tutoring and all that. He can’t ask the teacher so many questions in one class because there are too many students. There are teachers being cut, so the teachers don’t get that one-on-one time with the students. 

My kids would have more right of graduating and they will learn at the same time and they would be able to go off to college. They’re just not learning in class because the teachers have a limit of what to teach in class because there are so many students. 

 

Proposition 38 doesn't have much of chance of passing despite television ads until the very end. Proposition 30 was trailing in the final polls ahead of Election Day. If neither passes, Pasadena Unified would see 3.5 percent of its budget vanish this year and nearly 10 percent disappear next year.

ALSO SEE: Prop 30 Vs. Prop 38: Why Teachers And Parents Are Divided

Read Neon Tommy's coverage of election here.

Reach Senior Satff Reporter Gracie Zheng here.