Proposition 203 on the ballot

Proposition 203, the first combined effort of California's higher education institutions and public schools to secure funds, is slated for the March 26 primary ballot.

The record $3 billion bond measure will provide funds for school expansion projects, restoration and seismic retrofitting.

State legislators and school officials hope that the combined package will win back voter approval for education bonds.

"When K-12 and higher education were working on bonds, they thought together they would have better success," said Collen Bentley-Adler, spokesperson for the Chancellor's office.

Both public schools and higher education measures have had steady voter approval since the 1960s but have fallen out of favor since 1990.

Two of the last three state school and university bond measures have been defeated. In 1994, voters rejected a $1 billion measure for public schools.

California State University Board of Trustees and the state Board of Education have been working closely on issues since they met together with the California Community Colleges board of governors for the first time last fall, Bentley-Adler said.

"We have a lot stronger partnership," Bentley-Adler said. Officials form the state board of education agrees, but were concerned about the voter approval.

"The track record shows that voters have approved public bond measures more than those for higher education," said Henry Heydt, assistant director of school facilities planning divisions for California's public schools.

"It is more to their [higher education] advantage to ride on our coattails," Heydt said. "But the need for funds is multiplying in all our schools, so hopefully voters will recognize that."

Critics of the proposition argued that nearly half of the state's budget goes to education and that Californians pay enough taxes already.

If Proposition 203 passes, Kindergarten through 12th grade will receive more than $2 billion and $975 million will go to university and community facilities.

Cal State University Long Beach would receive $2.9 million over a two year period for construction projects.