The money comes from a fifty-cent tax on tobacco. Earlier this year state legislators passed a bill that would have taken a billion dollars from that fund; $17 million would have come from
Four-year-old Justin Moua spends his days in preschool, painting, playing and learning English. He's one of two dozen children in a nationally accredited program for children of settlement camps.
“Our charge is to get them ready for kindergarten because many of them don't speak English yet,” said Linda Conde, the preschool program director.
But the Fresno International Refugee Ministries wouldn't exist without funding from First 5, which administers money collected in the tobacco tax. That's why the threat of the state taking their money was devastating.
“It would close this program,” said Conde.
Earlier this year the state legislature voted to take $1 billion dollars from the California Children's Trust Fun.. $17 million would have come from
“We felt that the courts were our best way to really get a fair ruling on this and level the playing field for our kids,” said Kendra Rogers, Executive Director of First 5 Fresno County.
On Monda, First 5 celebrated a victory. A judge ruled the assembly bill is illegal.
“Unlike some other government, we don't spend money we don't have. So because of that planning, really, our kids were victims of raiding,” said
Programs who benefit are breathing easier.
“It's a huge sigh of relief because we know that research shows kids who get a preschool experience fare better,” said Conde.
One of AB 99's sponsors, Assemblyman Bob Bluemenfield issued this statement:
"Although this ruling was anticipated, it risks pushing the pain of future budget cuts onto other programs if the votes for revenues remain out of reach."
The state has asked voters twice before to divert First 5 funds and both times, it failed. The money would have been collected in June of 2012.