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It is so true that
is has become a cliché: Good schools are
the bedrock of good communities. Good schools boost property values,
help attract good workers, and add to the pool of educated citizens
and consumers. Prop. 55 is helpful to our schools and therefore would
greatly benefit our neighborhoods as well.
Here are the nuts and bolts of the measure: Prop. 55 is a statewide,
$12.3 billion school construction bond measure designed to ease overcrowding,
make safety repairs to California’s K-12 schools, and help community
colleges and state universities as well.
In fact, Prop. 55 will provide much-needed funds to repair outdated
and dilapidated schools and build more than 22,000 classrooms to ease
overcrowding. Without the passage of Prop. 55 on March 2, more than
300 vitally needed school repair projects statewide will be delayed.
Of the $12.3 billion, K-12 districts would receive $10 billion — $5.2
billion for new school construction and $4.8 billion for repair and
modernization. California’s community colleges, California State
University facilities, and University of California facilities would
receive $2.3 billion.
No taxes would be raised to cover these costs.
In Santa Barbara County it is estimated that our share of the funds
would amount to $223 million. The K-12 funding would be $138 million.
The list that follows shows the estimated needs for state matching
funds for new repair and construction of K-12 schools in Santa Barbara
County. It demonstrates each district’s need for a combined $71.8
million in new construction and $66.3 million in repairs. UCSB would
receive about $69 million, and the two community colleges would receive
a combined $16.5 million.
The UC system would use Prop. 55 funds to help accommodate a 40 percent
enrollment increase, seismically reinforce buildings vulnerable to
earthquakes, and modernize outdated infrastructure. The UC Regents
have endorsed Prop. 55, saying California’s educational institutions “are
in urgent need of repairs, renovations, improvements, and updates … if
California students are to receive the education they need and deserve.”
Allan Hancock’s $15 million would go toward building a new science/health
occupations complex. SBCC’s $1.4 million would be used to develop
building plans for a new school of media arts.
Prop. 55 has been endorsed by Chambers of Commerce, the California
State PTA, the California Taxpayers’ Association, community organizations,
teachers, the state’s higher education community, and many other
organizations.
California’s state treasurer has confirmed that California’s
economy is capable of supporting Prop. 55 and has become an enthusiastic
supporter, stating: “It’s a sound, prudent investment that
will contribute to our future economic prosperity.”
The California Taxpayer’s Association supports Prop. 55 because
school districts will be held accountable for the proper expenditure
of funds.
The money cannot be spent on bureaucracy or overhead. It can only be used for
school construction and renovations. In addition projects must comply with strict
accountability requirements, including mandatory audits, to safeguard against
waste. Also, the measure is clearly written so that project funds go to schools
that are most in need of repairs or have severe overcrowding problems.
Many people have asked how this proposition relates to local school bonds that
are either on the ballot or have already been passed. To obtain Prop. 55 funds,
districts must match the amount and most of them need the local bond money to
do so. Conversely, most districts cannot go out for bonds that cover all their
needs and will be able to use the matching funds of Prop. 55 to complete projects
and further improve their facilities. Funds to repair schools from the last statewide
school bond, Prop. 47, are already fully committed. This means that the job of
repairing run-down schools and building new classrooms is only half complete.
We urge voters to consider these facts and not be confused by competing bond
measures. Educators throughout our communities believe Prop. 55 is in the best
interests of our community and our state.
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