Superintendent Mario Contini's March 19 column infers the state's school funding crisis is exacerbated by Proposition 13. If not for Prop. 13, our state legislators would have driven thousands of people of modest means from their houses years ago by indiscriminately increasing the property tax.

California's state legislature continues to promote and fund needless and ineffective entitlement programs. No state program, no matter how ridiculous, has ever been eliminated. Don't forget the multitude of state commissions that provide a way for politically connected or termedout legislators to earn hundreds of thousands of dollars a year while doing nothing.

The employee unions for state workers have been awarded huge contracts and fully funded health and welfare packages that will cost this state billions of dollars in the future. Remember, there's no cap; taxpayers must fund these benefits, regardless of the ultimate cost.

There was a time when working in the public sector meant lower wages in exchange for job security and exceptional health and retirement benefits. Now public employees are paid far more than prevailing private sector wages and enjoy guaranteed benefits that no private employer could hope to match. Name one state employee who was laid off as a result of the economy.

Forget about rewarding teachers based on merit. The union says we must compensate all teachers the same, regardless of performance. Otherwise it's not fair. Not fair to whom—the hardworking, dedicated creative teachers or the lazy ineffective ones?

Illegal aliens cost California taxpayers millions of dollars a year in entitlement benefits and overload our educational and health systems. Mexico has a history of corrupt and ineffective administrations, coupled with a caste system that demeans its own people. It's unclear why this state has any responsibility for Mexico because that country is unwilling to provide for the health, education and welfare of its own citizens.

Don't blame today's educational fiasco on Prop. 13.

Californians pay the highest taxes in the nation. If our money isn't providing the education system you want, maybe it's time to vote for legislators who will, but I won't be holding my breath. Michael R. Morgan Newbury Park