Prop.
55 to help schools, hurt state
By
Monica Pardee
On-line Forty-Niner
California
voters and Cal State University students
will face a difficult decision when going
to the polls this March 2 to give money
for building and renovations throughout
the state's public schools, colleges and
universities while putting the state another
$24.7 billion into debt, or not. In a time
of fiscal emergency the Primary Election
Ballot is loaded with bond measures and
spending bills, some designed to help dig
California out of debt.
According
to the official voter information guide
published by the state, Prop. 55, also known
as the Kindergarten – University Public
Education Facilities Bond Act of 2004, would
allow for $12.3 billion for building construction
and facility renovations in public schools,
colleges and universities.
"It
is very important that all of our students
know how important this is," Chancellor
Charles Reed said. "I would like to
see all of our students, in our own self-interest,
support the bond."
The
second of twin bond measures, the previous
in November 2002, Prop. 55 would award much
less to Cal State Long Beach. Prop. 47 awarded
the university $22.8 million for a library
addition and renovation that has not yet
been begun. The Prop. 47 funding totaled
$13.05 billion for public schools, colleges
and universities.
The
23 CSU campuses will share the $690 million
and each campus will delegate its own prioritized
building project. CSULB will be allocated
just over $1 million for its building projects,
according to Rick Gloady, director of media
relations.
In
spite of the $10 billion California budget
deficit estimated for this year, the proposition
would, if repaid over the next 30 years,
create a $24.7 billion debt of its own.
This debt would constitute an average payment
for the state of around $823 million per
year, according to the official voter information
guide.
Originally
known as Assembly Bill 16, the proposition
passed in the Assembly and Senate by a large
majority. Proponents of the proposition
argue that California's schools are in need
of renovation and repairs, and with overcrowded
classrooms money is needed to build new
classrooms to support the flood of population
growth throughout the state.
Organizations
promoting the bond measure include the California
Chamber of Commerce, the California State
PTA and the California Teachers Association.
Opponents
of the proposition argue that $28 billion
of the $73 billion in approved bonds has
not been issued, according to the official
voter information guide. The $12.3 billion
bond measure would be on the same ballot
as Prop. 57, a $15 billion bond measure
proposed to help California better cope
with its current fiscal crisis. Prop. 57
would take an estimated 14 years to pay
off using sales tax revenue.
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