Governor Schwarzenegger wants to suspend $4 billion in education funding to deal with California's budget deficit. But the state's school superintendent says that's not easy. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has the story.
Teachers around California have been on edge ever since the governor announced his plan to suspend $4 billion from Proposition 98 funding.
Prop. 98 sets aside a minimum amount of state funding every year for California public schools.
But state school superintendent Jack O'Connell says the governor does not have the power to suspend Prop. 98 on his own.
O'Connell : The governor does not unilaterally have the authority to suspend Proposition 98. That authority rests with two-thirds vote in each house of the legislature, and a gubernatorial signature.
O'Connell says lawmakers have voted to suspend Prop. 98 funds in the past to deal with a budget deficit and natural disasters.
So far legislative budget analysts are blasting the governor's proposal to suspend $4 billion in education funding. They believe the state only has to suspend $800 million.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
