Credit: Susan Frey, EdSource TodayFremont High School in South Los Angeles, 2014.
Credit: Susan Frey, EdSource TodayFremont High School in South Los Angeles, 2014.
Guest authors
February 27, 2020
Updated Feb 27 with two new guest commentaries for and against the bond measure.
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The March 3 primary ballot in California includes a $15 billion state bond measure intended to help schools, community colleges and universities with construction and modernization costs for their facilities.
It is confusingly titled Proposition 13 — but it has nothing to do with Prop. 13, the tax cutting measure approved by voters in 1978.
As a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization EdSource takes no position on the ballot measure. To read different views on the issue, scroll down for perspectives from proponents and opponents of the bond measure. We will be posting additional perspectives on this topic in the coming week.
Want to read an independent summary of the measure? Check out EdSource’s “quick guide” here.
February 27, 2020
California’s students need and deserve safe, healthy, modern learning environments. Prop. 13 brings much-needed facilities funding to local schools and to our higher education systems without raising taxes and makes safety, health and school district needs a priority component of the allocation process.
February 27, 2020
This year’s Prop. 13 proposes that California taxpayers borrow $15 billion at a cost of $11 billion over 35 years. Rather than funding school repairs through high interest Wall Street bond financing, why not instead use some of the budget surplus for schools?
February 19, 2020
Many of our school buildings are obsolete or badly in need of modernization. Our kids need safe, energy-efficient buildings. They need clean drinking water. They need access to new technology to prepare for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
February 18, 2020
The confusingly numbered “Proposition 13” on the March 3 statewide ballot will waste taxpayer dollars, needlessly increase the state’s debt burden and encourage school districts to issue more debt, raising property tax bills.
January 5, 2020
Today, many students at the University of California, California State University and community colleges attend classes in buildings in need of seismic upgrades. They often work with outdated equipment and sometimes cannot get the courses they need to graduate because of the lack of available classroom space.
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Byron Blalock 3 years ago3 years ago
So yet another school bond measure? California has a surplus. 2016 voters approved $9 billion bond measure for what this is asking in 2020 for another $15 Billion. I remember not that long ago, a bond measure was introduced to help upgrade schools and build more schools. It was the lottery. Where are all those wonderfully promised dollars? Is this our surplus? Could it possibly be raises for our California Assembly members or our "forget … Read More
So yet another school bond measure? California has a surplus. 2016 voters approved $9 billion bond measure for what this is asking in 2020 for another $15 Billion. I remember not that long ago, a bond measure was introduced to help upgrade schools and build more schools. It was the lottery.
Where are all those wonderfully promised dollars? Is this our surplus? Could it possibly be raises for our California Assembly members or our “forget what I promised you” Governor? NO on 13!