Despite having one of the highest costs of living in the nation, our state spends about $18,000 per student. That is far below other states with comparable high cost of living.
Santa Rosa City Schools avoided state receivership in 2026 only after coming to terms with a $35 million deficit. To keep local control, the district had to make painful cuts, layoffs, and close schools. Stabilizing the budget was necessary and painful. Now it is time to renew, recommit and restore. Our schools require new, locally controlled funding to ensure high-quality and stable resources for all of our students.
Strong public schools are a cornerstone of a thriving community. Without them, new families and businesses hesitate to put down roots. When schools underperform, average daily attendance falls, and the community begins to feel the strain. As this continues, property values decline, revenue for schools and the city drops, and the services that support daily life become harder to maintain.
