Preschool is an expensive proposition
"...Schwarzenegger, who opposes Proposition 82, has proposed spending $50 million next year as part of a phased-in program that would eventually commit $145 million annually to the preschool project.
"That might seem puny compared to the $2 billion-plus envisioned by Proposition 82, the measure placed on the ballot by Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his allies. But much of the money raised by the Reiner initiative would go to provide free preschool to children whose middle-class and wealthy families are paying for it now. The smaller amount proposed by the governor would go mostly to children from poor families who are not already enrolled..."
"In fact, the targeted approach favored by Schwarzenegger might expand preschool to just as many 4-year-olds from poor families as the more broad-based program in Proposition 82, while spending less than one-tenth as much..."
I remember reading that in his May revision to his budget. When he came out against Prop 82, he was very careful to *not* say that he opposed the objective of the initiative. He said only that he opposed it because of the taxes. The $50 million Weintraub mentions is only part of it. I also saw language in the Bond Measure for schools, talking about transfer of existing school properties for preschool purposes.
Here's the text from the May revise:
http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/pdf/Revised/BudgetSummary/FullBudgetSummary.pdf
P.37
Targeted Preschool Initiative
The May Revision proposes $50 million Proposition 98 General Fund for the first phase of a $145 million expansion for 4-year olds from low-income families residing in school districts in the lowest three deciles of the Academic Performance Index. This expansion will also include quality reforms designed to promote family literacy. Research demonstrates that children from low-income families benefit the most from access to quality preschool. The expansion will be phased in over a three-year period, which will allow school districts to address facility needs and to build capacity by hiring new teachers.
In addition, the May Revision provides an increase of $50 million one-time Proposition 98 General Fund in the Child Care Facilities Revolving Fund to address facility needs for the preschool expansion.