Investing in our schools is the most important commitment we canmake for our children and California’s future. No generation ofCalifornians knows better than those in our university system howdesperately newclassrooms are needed. And Proposition 39 will benefit no generationmore than the children who will be attending public schools in thecoming decade.
Prop. 39 allows local voters to make decisions about repairing orbuilding classrooms to make it possible to reduce class size oraccommodate a rising student population. At the same time, itprotects taxpayers by imposing tough new requirements to hold schooladministrators strictly accountable for the way school bond money isspent.
Passage of Prop. 39 will…
Help build and repair needed schools and classrooms
California schools are among the most overcrowded in the nation.Some school districts are forced to teach children in trailers,converted cafeterias, libraries and gyms. Experts predict we’ll need20,000 new classrooms just to keep up with student population growthexpected over the next 10 years.
Protect taxpayers and homeowners
Passage of Prop. 39 would require local school bonds to be passedby a tough 55 percent super-majority vote and prohibit these votesexcept during regularly-scheduled elections. A strict cap limitingthe amount property taxes can be raised as a result of a local schoolbond would be imposed if Prop. 39 passes. For the average Californiahomeowner, the maximum cap is less than $100 per year.
Overhaul school bond spending
Prop. 39 will implement tough new fiscal accountability standardsto ensure every penny of local school bond money goes directly towardbuilding and repairing classrooms — and not toward administration orbureaucracy.
Prop. 39 will:
Strictly forbid the use of local school bond funding forbureaucracy;
Strictly forbid the use of local school bond funding foradministrative salaries;
Require local school districts to provide voters with a specificlist of school construction projects to be financed by a proposedbond;
Require school districts to commission two independent audits –financial and performance — annually throughout the life of the bondto ensure funds are expended on the approved projects and that allbond proceeds are accounted for;
Mandate new citizen watchdog committees comprised of localparents, seniors, taxpayers and businesses. These watchdog committeesare empowered to seek court orders to stop any project if audits showwasteful or unauthorized spending, inform the public of abuses orwaste, and work with law enforcement to vigorously investigate andprosecute violations.
Prop. 39 helps students and protects taxpayers. That’s why it haswon the support of Gov. Gray Davis and former Gov. Pete Wilson. Prop.39’s long list of supporters includes major senior, teacher, parent,taxpayer, labor, ethnic and public safety organizations, includingthe California State University Board of Governors, individual CSUcampuses and the California State Student Association.
Learn more about Prop. 39 by visiting www.yeson39.org. You canfind the full text of the measure on the Web site as well asmaterials to download and distribute if you want to get more involvedin the campaign.
Every vote is important. If you haven’t registered to vote whereyou attend school, you can request an absentee ballot athttp://www.ss.ca. gov/elections/elections_w.htm. The AssociatedStudents office in lower Aztec Center can also help you voteabsentee.
Vote YES on Prop. 39 on Nov. 7!
Sen. O’Connell (D-Santa Barbara) is a member of the SenateEducation Committee and a longtime supporter of public education inCalifornia. He authored the legislation that mandated class sizereduction and another bill that raised starting salaries forteachers. Send e-mail to daletter2000@hotmail.com.
–This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of TheDaily Aztec.
