Untapped Source for Colleges

By Jeffrey Pu, Berkeley | 12/9/2014

Re “Public colleges are underfunded, but no appetite for higher fees” (Capitol Alert, Dec. 1): Considering that Californians pay among the highest income and sales taxes in the country and that our public higher education system is becoming increasingly unaffordable, it’s not surprising that we are unwilling to pay higher taxes or raise student tuition. However, we do recognize the importance of investing in our public school system.

Fortunately, there’s a simple solution to our problem of funding public education. Reforming Proposition 13 so that large commercial properties pay market value property tax rates would bring in billions in reliable revenue each year to our schools and public services.

Instead of continually asking individuals and working families to shoulder the burden of funding our schools, let’s have those that could most afford it – hugely profitable companies like Chevron and Disney – pay their fair share to support the development of an educated workforce they would also benefit from.