School Districts in Nevada County had a band-aid put on severe budget wounds with Proposition 30 passing Tuesday. The Governor’s Tax Initiative will prevent mid-year trigger cuts that would have gone into effect in January. Most of the districts in the county included the cuts for this year planning on the sales tax increase not passing. However, some districts took a calculated risk and relied on district reserves to keep staff and programs in place. Pleasant Ridge School District Superintendent, Britta Skavdahl, explained the risk her district took.

Click here to listen to Britta Skavdahl

The risk paid off in the Pleasant Ridge School District. Skavdahl says it was worth the chance.

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The Superintendent said it was a little nerve-racking when initial reports started to flow shortly after polls closed in California.

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Britta Skavdahl said Pleasant Ridge is taking a proactive approach to dealing with deficit spending and is working collaboratively with all stakeholders to find solutions.

Chicago Park School District Superintendent Dan Zeisler is happy that Proposition 30 passed. If the Governor’s tax initiative hadn’t passed it would have severely impacted his school’s programs.

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So for now, Chicago Park and other Nevada County school districts have a temporary stop gap that will avoid those cuts, but doesn’t provide additional money.

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Proposition 30 is the Governor’s Tax Initiative that increases sales tax in California by a quarter percent and increases income tax for the wealthy.  Zeisler has concerns that residents will now perceive that the education budget issues have been solved.

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Nevada County School Districts needed the help from the rest of the state as local voters did not support Prop 30 with 57% voting no.