This is a breakdown of each CA Proposition as researched by Debra Dowdy. She has taken the time to research the facts as given by the Ballot Initiatives and information available on ballotpedia.org. At the end of the description, she and I give our vote for each Proposition. There is also a linkable list of Propositions at the bottom of the post. We hope this will help you learn more about these important initiatives. Please leave a comment with your thoughts and vote!
CA Proposition 51.
Should we authorize a $9 billion general obligation bond? $3 billion for new schools. $3 billion to modernize schools. $1 billion for charter schools and vocational education facilities. $2 billion for community colleges.
Cost would be repaying the $9 billion plus $8.6 billion interest. Payments of $500 million per year for 35 years. (Right now we are paying $2 billion per year on state school bonds.)
I’m a believer in local control over schools. I prefer local school bonds paid for by local property taxes. (Last June voters approved over 90% of local school bond proposals.) This would be controlled by the State. There’s no provision to prioritize the funds to the schools that need it most. Richer schools with resources would have an advantage over poorer ones when it comes to applying for the money.
This initiative was written and sponsored in part by construction companies and the California Association of Realtors. Over $9 million has been raised to support this. So there might be an agenda there. Most bonds are put on the ballot by the Legislature, but not this one.
$146 billion in state and local school bonds have been approved since 2001. The proponents are saying that schools still don’t meet basic health and safety needs. Where’s the money been going?
Another provision of the initiative states that if bond money is available, developers can’t be mad to pay more than one half of the cost of schools in the new neighborhoods they build.
Debra Dowdy is voting – No
Chris Dowdy is voting – No
Links to all other CA Proposition for the 2016 Ballot:
Proposition 52 – Medi-Cal Hospital Fee Program
Proposition 53 – Revenue Bonds
Proposition 54 – Legislative…Proceedings
Proposition 55 – Tax Extension to Fund Education and Healthcare
Proposition 56 – Cigarette Tax
Proposition 57 – Criminal sentences and parole
Proposition 58 – Multilingual Education
Proposition 59 – Corporations and Political Spending
Proposition 60 – The Condom One
Proposition 61 – Limiting prices on medications State buys
Proposition 62 – Repealing the Death Penalty
Proposition 63 – Background Checks to Buy Ammunition
Proposition 64 – Legalizing Marijuana