Politichaos

Resolving the Ruckus

Proposition 51

vote.jpg

School Bonds. Funding for K-12 School and Community College Facilities.

initiative statute

*PASSED*

Official Summary

Authorizes $9 billion in general obligation bonds: $3 billion for new construction, $3 billion for modernization of of K-12 public school facilities, $500 million for charter schools,$500 million for vocational education facilities, $2 billion for Community Colleges facilities.

Fiscal Impact: State costs of about $17.6 billion to pay off both the principal ($9 billion) and interest ($8.6 billion) on the bonds. Payments of about $500 million per year for 35 years.

Notes

  • project monies taken from new 2016 State Schools Facilities Fund and 2016 California Community College Capital Outlay Bond Fund
  • appropriates money from the general fund to pay off bonds
  • items using Community College money must have average useful life of 10 years, seismic retrofitting given priority
  • last state facility bond in 2006; today the state has virtually no remaining funding from previous school/community college bonds
  • new construction: state funding 50%, local funding 50%
  • modernization projects: state funding 60%, local funding 40%
  • modernization projects for charter/tech ed schools: state funding 50%, local funding 50%