One of four propositions on the March 2 ballot is asking
Californians to support public school facility repairs.
”
There’s a lot of money at stake here on March 2,
”
said Tim Foley, San Benito County superintendent of schools.
One of four propositions on the March 2 ballot is asking Californians to support public school facility repairs.
“There’s a lot of money at stake here on March 2,” said Tim Foley, San Benito County superintendent of schools.
If passed, Proposition 55 would secure $12.3 million in funding to school districts that need to relieve overcrowding and repair older classrooms or schools. While supporters argue the need to invest in students’ futures by providing clean, safe classrooms, proponents contend that the state’s fiscal crisis does not allow financial support of the bond and that money will go to only wealthy school districts. Both sides agree that school construction needs to be a priority in California.
Most local educators support the bond stating the need for construction and improvements. Proposition 55, or the Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2004, would fix leaky roofs, repair broken bathrooms and increase safety for the 6.2 million k-12 students and 1.6 million community college and university students, they argue.
“I think Proposition 55 is going to be necessary to sustain the growth plans for schools in California and for the needs of San Benito County,” Foley said.
Though student enrollment has slowed across the county, and mainly in Hollister, Foley said Proposition 55 is important for future and more long-term growth.
“I feel it’s very necessary,” said Jean Burns Slater, San Benito High School District superintendent.
“Our students are in school right now. If we put this off, those students will suffer now,” she said about the state’s financial woes and the initiative being a bond measure.
Proposition 55 is a continuation of Proposition 47 passed in 2002 that funded $13 million for school renovation and construction. The current SBHS campus expansion was funded through Proposition 47, Slater said. Down the road, SBHS could possibly use funds from Proposition 55 to start construction of a second high school, she said.
An estimated 22,000 classrooms need to be built to relieve overcrowding across the state. Locally, six school districts could benefit from Proposition 55, with needs estimated at $38 million for new construction and $12.4 million for repair, according to the Yes on 55 campaign.
Proposition 55 is supported by the California Taxpayers’ Association, the California State PTA and the California Chamber of Commerce. It needs a majority of votes to pass.
Retractors agree construction should be a priority, and they want to see money set aside in the state budget, not coming from a bond that will take years to pay off. The $12.3 million bond will cost an additional $12.4 million in interest.
One point supporters argue for passage of Proposition 55 is that it does not raise taxes, but opponents argue taxes will be raised at some point to pay off the interest. Proposition 55 is one of the largest bonds in the history of any American state, and with California’s bond rating reaching junk bond status, Proposition 55 is not viable, retractors state.
“I don’t see that we have much choice,” Foley countered.
Since Proposition 55 matches construction funds schools provide themselves, the bond can also be perceived as benefiting wealthy schools only.
The initiative requires school to match 40 percent of the funds to receive any money. But Foley doesn’t think many local school districts will have a problem raising the money since the bond is not immediate for the county.
“Our schools are in remarkably good shape due to diligent maintenance on the part of our school districts,” he said.
With the current budget problems, not many school districts have 40 percent of a construction or renovation project lying around, opponents argue.
For more information on Proposition 55, visit http://www.voterguide.ss.ca.gov/.
