POLLS SHOW SUPPORT LACKING ON TAXES TO FUND LAUSD

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VIDEO: Polls Show Support Lags On Taxes For LAUSD - Wendy Burch reports

6:42 a.m. PDT, April 27, 2012  ::  LOS ANGELES (KTLA) -- Two new pollS show that the L.A. Unified School District is facing an uphill battle getting voters to approve taxes that could help prevent big cuts to jobs and programs.

At issue are a statewide half-percent sales tax increase to fund education, as well as a $300 per year local parcel tax.

Both measures will appear on the ballot in November.

A survey by the Public Policy Institute of California shows that 52 percent of Californians oppose Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed sales tax increase.

Additionally, 57 percent are against a competing plan that would raise personal income taxes.

The poll also found weak support for a bond issue or parcel tax to fund schools.

Still, most of the 2,005 state residents surveyed said that the quality of education is a major problem.

A separate poll of about 1,150 registered voters in Los Angeles found that only 40 percent favored the parcel tax.

The tax need to win a two-thirds majority approval from voters in order to pass.

However, the poll also found that 54 percent of voters would be willing to extend the county's temporary half-percent sales tax for transportation.

The LAUSD is currently facing a $390 million budget deficit.

Back in February, The LAUSD board he board approved sending 11,700 pink slips to teachers and other employees.

The notices had to be sent out ahead of the state-mandated March 15th deadline.

Superintendent John Deasy has said he hopes two-thirds of those pink slips can be rescinded.

Preschool and adult education programs could also be on the chopping block.

A budget proposal calls for eliminating the district's 24 adult education campuses.

That would cut 1,500 jobs and save the district about $134 million for the 2012-13 school year.

Deasy has said the district should be able to preserve a good portion of the adult education program, at least for the next year.

Other popular programs targeted for cuts include the GATE program for gifted students and the Academic Decathlon program.