ARGUMENT in Favor of
Proposition 55
Our kids deserve clean, safe classrooms if we expect them to succeed. But many students are asked to learn in classrooms that are rundown and overcrowded.
California needs to invest in education to invest in the future of our children. Fixing rundown classrooms and building new schools to reduce overcrowding is one way to help students improve test scores and meet higher standards.
Passing Proposition 55 will invest in our kids' future and enact strict accountability standards that make sure school bond funds go directly to repair and build new classrooms where they're most needed.
PARENTS SUPPORT Proposition 55 because it FIXES OLD AND OUTDATED CLASSROOMS in need of repair.
Recent surveys show that one million children attend schools with bathrooms that don't work. Our kids deserve better. Prop. 55:
- FIXES LEAKY ROOFS, REPAIRS BROKEN BATHROOMS, and puts heating and air conditioning in classrooms.
- Helps make sure kids go to school in SAFE BUILDINGS that meet earthquake and fire standards.
LOCAL TEACHERS SUPPORT Proposition 55 because it PROVIDES COMMUNITIES MATCHING STATE FUNDS TO BUILD NEW LOCAL SCHOOLS.
California needs to build more than 22,000 classrooms to relieve overcrowding and deal with increasing student enrollment. Proposition 55 provides matching state funds for local school projects and will:
- BUILD NEW LOCAL SCHOOLS up and down the state.
- BUILD NEW CLASSROOMS to relieve overcrowding and reduce class sizes.
The CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION supports Proposition 55's STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY PROVISIONS.
- INDEPENDENT AUDITS, COST CONTROLS and other accountability requirements guard against waste and mismanagement and provide oversight of ALL school projects.
- Funds can only be spent to repair or build schools, NOT on bureaucracy or waste.
The CALIFORNIA STATE PTA supports Proposition 55 because it TARGETS FUNDS WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED MOST.
- Prop. 55 provides specific funding to build new schools in areas where classrooms are severely overcrowded.
- New and growing communities also receive their fair share to build the schools and classrooms they need.
The CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, California COMMUNITY COLLEGES and UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA support Proposition 55.
- Proposition 55 provides funds for colleges and universities to build classrooms and modernize research facilities that help create jobs and grow California's economy.
The CALIFORNIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE supports Proposition 55 because it INVESTS IN OUR ECONOMY AND OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE.
- School construction is a direct investment in the economy. Proposition 55 projects will CREATE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS throughout California.
- Prop. 55 provides money to wire classrooms and give students the tools they need to become tomorrow's leaders.
Passing Proposition 55 will invest in our kids' future by fixing rundown classrooms and building new schools. Strict accountability requirements ensure funds are spent only on school repair and construction.
And Prop. 55 is a general obligation bond that WILL NOT RAISE TAXES.
Join Republicans, Democrats and Independents, local teachers, taxpayer organizations, community groups, local businesses, the California Chamber of Commerce, California State PTA and millions of Californians who support our schools.
VOTE YES ON PROPOSITION 55.
BARBARA KERR, President
California Teachers Association
LARRY MCCARTHY, President
California Taxpayers' Association
BILL HAUCK, Co-Chair
Californians for Accountability and Better Schools
REBUTTAL to Argument in Favor of Proposition 55
We need to make school construction a priority for California—without increasing our debt.
The proponents' ridiculous claim that this bond "will not raise taxes" is a preposterous misrepresentation. Bond funds can only be repaid with tax dollars. We must either cut services or increase taxes to repay this bond.
Fortunately, there is a better way to build schools. This year, the state spent $3,542,000,000 for school construction (equivalent to 3.5% of the state's $101,174,000,000 budget). If we spent just 5% of the next five budgets on school construction, we would raise TWICE as much money as this bond. We could build twice as many schools and save taxpayers more than $12 billion in interest!
We don't need new debt or higher taxes. We just need to tell Sacramento to make school construction a priority.
Proponents claim that funds from Proposition 55 "can only be spent to repair or build schools, NOT on bureaucracy or waste." This is nonsense. School construction in California is plagued by waste, bureaucracy, and ridiculous government mandates. This bond does nothing to eliminate bureaucracy, waste or mandates.
The proponents promise to build schools "up and down the state," but they don't mention that the money will only be spent in districts wealthy enough to raise the 40% matching funds. HALF OF ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS RECEIVED NOTHING FROM THE LAST SCHOOL BOND. There is no guarantee that your school district will receive a penny from this bond, but you will be forced to pay it back.
RICO OLLER, State Senator
First Senate District
LEW UHLER, President
National Tax-Limitation Committee
HENRY A. HOUGH, Senior Vice President
60-Plus Association |
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ARGUMENT Against
Proposition 55
California is facing the most severe financial crisis in the history of any state. Last year, California's budget deficit nearly equaled the combined deficits of all other states. Our state's credit rating is the very worst in the nation and our bonds are slipping toward "junk bond" status. To make matters worse, former Governor Davis and the Legislature borrowed more than $13 billion last year just to pay the bills. Next year's estimated budget deficit is already over $10 billion and the bad news keeps coming. We are in such dire fiscal straits that the Treasurer has not been able to issue $28 billion of the $73 billion in statewide bonds that have already been approved.
The results of this financial mismanagement are staggering. For decades, we will be forced to pay higher taxes just to pay back what we have already borrowed. Even without new bonds, our crippling debt load will make it much more difficult for government to respond to natural disasters and recessions. Today's schoolchildren will still be paying for this bond long after their own children have graduated!
At a time when Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature struggle to find ways to pay for the $73,000,000,000 in previously approved debt, this measure would dig us deeper into a financial hole. At $12,300,000,000, Proposition 55 rivals the largest bond in the history of any American state. We simply cannot afford it.
It is time for us to take a new look at the way we build schools in California. The effect of compound interest and the fees paid to lawyers, Wall Street bond traders, and bureaucrats generally doubles the cost of facilities built with bonds. This bond does not even contain an interest rate cap, so the true costs could be much higher, especially if California voters approve additional bonds in this election. WE COULD BUILD MANY MORE SCHOOLS IF WE ADOPTED A MORE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE APPROACH. Since California has thousands and thousands of public schools, why not simply build and renovate some number each year? That way, we wouldn't need to go into debt or threaten our financial stability. We just need to impress upon Sacramento that school construction is a priority.
Before voting, please take a close look at the bond's language. The drafters cleverly set aside more than a quarter of the bond funds for the Los Angeles Unified School District. Only 12% of our state's schoolchildren attend school there. This isn't fair and it isn't right.
To add insult to injury, Proposition 55 requires local school districts to provide 40% matching funds to receive ANY money. Does your school district have a huge budget surplus? Unless you live in a wealthy community with surplus cash for the required 40% matching funds, you and your children may never see a penny from this $12,300,000,000 bond, but you will certainly be required to pay higher taxes to pay back the money for the next 30 years.
Please VOTE NO on Proposition 55.
SENATOR RICO OLLER
First Senate District
REBUTTAL to Argument Against Proposition 55
California can and must continue to invest in education and our kids' future. Proposition 55 will do just that. Don't be fooled by the opponent's distortion of the facts.
Providing safe, clean classrooms will improve student performance and help our children succeed.
CALIFORNIA STATE TREASURER Phil Angelides says, "California's economy is capable of supporting Proposition 55. It's a sound, prudent investment that will contribute to our future economic prosperity."
THE CALIFORNIA TAXPAYERS' ASSOCIATION says, "Proposition 55 is a fiscally responsible way to finance school repair and construction."
The opponent DELIBERATELY MISREPRESENTED the facts. The truth:
- Every district is eligible for only its FAIR SHARE of Prop. 55 based on need. No district, in Los Angeles or elsewhere, will get more than its fair share.
- Proposition 55 TARGETS FUNDS where they're needed most—districts with critically overcrowded and rundown schools. Visit www.Yeson55.com for a list of Prop. 55 projects and projects financed by the last statewide school bond.
- STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY requirements, COST CONTROLS and independent AUDITS safeguard against waste and mismanagement.
- Proposition 55 provides matching funding to local districts. Without Prop. 55, many communities cannot move forward with school repair and construction.
- Proposition 55 is a general obligation bond that WILL NOT RAISE TAXES.
California needs to build 22,000 classrooms to deal with overcrowding and increasing enrollment. Tens of thousands of schools need basic repairs—fixing leaky roofs and broken bathrooms, installing heating and air conditioning.
Vote YES on 55 to FIX RUNDOWN SCHOOLS, build NEW CLASSROOMS and IMPROVE STUDENT LEARNING.
CARLA NIÑO, President
California State PTA
ALLAN ZAREMBERG, President
California Chamber of Commerce
CATHERINE L. UNGER, President
Board of Governors, California Community Colleges |
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