Prop 51: Better Schools Now or Better Funding Policy Later?

If voters approve Proposition 51, state government will borrow $9 billion (costing $17.6 billion in total) to pay for repairs and new construction of K-12 schools, charter schools, career technical education facilities, and community colleges with the approximate allocations below:

$6 billion for K-12 new construction and repairs

$500 million for career technical education facilities

$500 million for charter schools

$2 billion to community college facilities

---

[infographic id=”x1478555675070″]

 
 

---

Governor Jerry Brown opposes it, Lewis Group of Companies (a prominent stakeholder and developer in the region) and CalAtlantic Group (another homebuilder and developer in the region) supports it – with a contribution of $275,000 and $262,600 respectively to match.

The positions of these two figures reflect what is at the odds of the proposition, placing school facilities and ultimately children in the middle which brings California School Boards Association, California State PTA, Common Sense, and Children Now to support it. This has also garnered bipartisan support in the state with endorsements from California Democratic and Republican Parties – with Supervisor Curt Hagman (R) of San Bernardino County listed as a local supporter as well as Assemblymember Marc Steinorth (R), Assemblymember Chris Holden (D), Assemblymember Ling Ling Chang (R), and Senator Jean Fuller (R).

Governor Brown is known for his objective to be fiscally prudent and here he also takes in consideration that lower-income communities could be pitted against wealthier communities in the “first come, first serve” process of the bonds, thus creating an equity issue. Other arguments against Proposition 51 pose that since the proposition was placed on the ballot from developers (e.g. California Building Industry Association, Lewis Group of Companies, California Association of Realtors) that it is largely a benefit to developers who will have a significant reduction in fees for developing properties.

The packed funding initiative also bars reform of financial policies that leave the bonds susceptible to unaccountability and mismanagement, which has been an ongoing concern with bond initiatives around school measures not only with Governor Jerry Brown, but with Attorney General Kamala Harris as well. Inland Valley Daily Bulletin also takes the position of concern on the funding, urging readers to vote no. The local newspaper introduces the possibility for public-private partnerships to take on the issue based on nonpartisan recommendations from the Legislative Analyst Office which feels that funding school construction and repairs through these measures perpetuates the lack of consideration of school facility maintenance as an ongoing expense.

So between better school facilities now or reformed financial policies later – voters will decide on November 8. Based on polling from the Public Policy Institute of California – it is expected to pass. What are some critical conditions at your schools you are hoping to see fixed?

Sources:

Common Sense Voter Guide 2016

California General Election Official Voter Guide (Analysis & Debate)

StopProp51.org – defers to media stories covering opposition