California voters did the right thing in passing Proposition 30. It is clear Proposition 30 is not a panacea for the educational funding issues we face in California, but it is a short-term answer to a long-term problem.

A countless number of our state’s residents have benefited from the 1960 Master Plan of Higher Education. The plan clarified the missions of each higher education system (the California Community Colleges, the California State University and the University of California). As a result of this efficient plan, California has produced a greater number of college graduates at a lower per-student cost than any other state in the nation.

The long-term benefits of living in an educated community go far beyond the costs of educating our children. There is a direct correlation between higher levels of education and higher incomes, less poverty, less unemployment and less reliance on public assistance. It’s simple; invest in our children now and avoiding paying the consequences later.