ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF PROPOSITION 51

PROP. 51 MAKES PROTECTING STUDENTS A TOP PRIORITY.

Many schools and community colleges are outdated and need repairs to meet basic health and safety standards—including retrofitting for earthquake safety, fire safety, and removing asbestos and lead paint and pipes. Prop. 51 will help make sure our local schools are updated and safe for students.

PROP. 51 WILL HELP ALL CALIFORNIA STUDENTS GET A QUALITY EDUCATION.

"Nothing is more disheartening than teaching students when our classrooms are falling apart and don't provide access to student's basic academic needs. To help students succeed, Prop. 51 will repair outdated and deteriorating schools and upgrade classroom technology, libraries, and computer and science labs."—Tim Smith, 2014 California Teacher of the Year, Florin High School

IMPROVING VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND HELPING RETURNING VETERANS.

"Prop. 51 allows local schools and community colleges to upgrade vocational education classrooms so students can train for good–paying careers and contribute to California's growing economy. And, we owe it to our veterans to provide training and help them transition to the workplace."—Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction

INCREASE ACCESS TO AN AFFORDABLE COLLEGE EDUCATION.

"By upgrading and repairing our community college facilities, we can increase access to quality, affordable higher education for all Californians. Our community colleges contribute to the economic and social strength of local communities throughout the state, and help college students avoid thousands of dollars in debt. We need to show our support to California's students."—Jonathan Lightman, Executive Director, Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

CALIFORNIA FACES A LONG BACKLOG OF NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECTS.

"School nurses are aware of the need for improved school facilities, the overcrowding, plumbing and other environmental issues requiring modifications necessary to maintain optimum health and safety of the students, faculty, and staff will be addressed by Prop. 51."—Kathy Ryan, President, California School Nurses Organization

PROTECTS LOCAL CONTROL OVER EVERY PROJECT.

"Prop. 51 will protect local control by requiring funding only be used for school improvement projects approved by local school and community college boards. All of the money must be spent locally, where taxpayers can have a voice in deciding how these funds are best used to improve their neighborhood schools."—Chris Ungar, President, California School Boards Association

A FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY TO UPGRADE AND REPAIR SCHOOLS WITH TOUGH TAXPAYER ACCOUNTABILITY.

"A statewide bond is the best option for meeting California's school construction needs, because education is a statewide concern. Without this bond, local taxpayers will face higher local property taxes that create inequalities between schools in different communities, treat taxpayers differently, and lack strong accountability provisions."—Teresa Casazza, President, California Taxpayers Association

WE CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.

We haven't passed a statewide school bond in ten years, and now we face a massive backlog of local school projects. Our schools are in desperate need of upgrades and repairs to keep our students safe and ensure they have facilities where they can learn.

Prop. 51 will help our students and veterans succeed.

PLEASE JOIN US IN VOTING YES ON PROP. 51.

JUSTINE FISCHER, President

California State PTA

KEN HEWITT, President

California Retired Teachers Association

LARRY GALIZIO, Chief Executive Officer

Community College League of California

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF PROPOSITION 51

Since 2001, we've approved over $146 billion in state and local bonds to fix California schools. Yet Prop. 51 supporters still claim our schools don't "meet basic health and safety standards."

Where did the money go?

INVITES FRAUD:

The last statewide school bond audit by the California Department of Finance found BILLIONS AT RISK of "being used for unintended purposes . . . if left unresolved . . . will continue to adversely affect bond accountability."

Because spending safeguards are not implemented or not working bond funds can be misused.

Both Governor Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris have raised this concern.

Prop. 51 keeps this flawed system in place.

BLOCKS REFORMS:

Prop. 51 ties the hands of legislators and locks in current rules. It hijacks our democracy by barring legislators from correcting rules that deny disadvantaged schools the help they need.

This guarantees developers don't pay their fair share.

ALLOWS RECKLESS SPENDING:

Bonds are expensive. Two tax dollars are required to payback every dollar borrowed. Bonds should be used for things that last decades. Incredibly, Prop. 51 funds can be spent on equipment with a 10–year "average useful life." Bond payments will last decades longer.

This is like buying your lunch with a 30–year mortgage and paying for it many times over.

Prop. 51 may be the most self–serving, devious measure ever put before California voters. It was created by the construction industry to benefit the construction industry.

Visit StopProp51.org. See who's behind the Yes campaign.

Vote NO on 51!

G. RICK MARSHALL, Chief Financial Officer

California Taxpayers Action Network

WENDY M. LACK, Director

California Taxpayers Action Network

ARGUMENT AGAINST PROPOSITION 51

Bonds are debts that must be repaid with interest, over time.

Since 1998, California voters have approved $35 billion in state school construction bonds. All were placed on the ballot by the Legislature and backed by the Governor. Proposition 51 is different. The Legislature did not put Proposition 51 on the ballot. And the Governor opposes it.

We join the Governor in opposition because Proposition 51 is:

UNAFFORDABLE:

Californians already pay $2 billion each year on state school bonds. Proposition 51 would cost an additional $500 million each year—money the state doesn't have.

In total, California has over $400 billion in debt and financial commitments. Governor Brown calls this a "wall of debt." Borrowing more money we can't afford is reckless.

UNACCOUNTABLE:

With local school bonds, communities control spending. With state school bonds, bureaucrats and their cronies call the shots. Local control is the best way to minimize government waste.

UNNECESSARY:

For school construction, local bond measures work better than statewide bonds. Last June voters approved over 90% of local school bonds on the ballot, providing over $5.5 billion for school construction.

School enrollment is expected to decline over the next 10 years. Proposition 51 wastes money favoring construction of new schools over remodeling existing schools.

INEQUITABLE:

Proposition 51 funding would go to those first in line. Large wealthy districts would receive the "lion's share" because they have dedicated staff to fill out paperwork. This shuts out smaller, poorer districts that need help most. This is morally wrong.

REFORM FIRST:

Proposition 51 does nothing to change the bureaucratic, one–size–fits–none state bond program. Small, needy school districts can't afford expensive consultants used by the big, wealthy schools. Program reforms are needed so disadvantaged districts get the money they deserve.

Last February Governor Brown told the Los Angeles Times, "I am against the developers' $9–billion bond . . . [it] squanders money that would be far better spent in low–income communities.”

Brown also said benefit promises to state employees are "liabilities so massive that it is tempting to ignore them . . .. We can't possibly pay them off in a year or two or even 10. Yet, it is our moral obligation to do so–particularly before we make new commitments."

We agree.

Proposition 51 is supported by businesses and politicians who benefit from more state spending. Yes on 51 has already raised over $6 million from those who would profit most, including the Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH) and California Building Industry Association.

California Taxpayers Action Network is an all–volunteer, non–partisan, non–profit that promotes fiscal responsibility and transparency in local government. We combat government secrecy, waste and corruption and seek to ensure everyone receives good value for their tax dollars.

We're people just like you who support quality schools and want fiscal responsibility in government without waste.

Join us in voting NO on Proposition 51.

www.caltan.org

G. RICK MARSHALL, Chief Financial Officer

California Taxpayers Action Network

WENDY M. LACK, Director

California Taxpayers Action Network

REBUTTAL TO ARGUMENT AGAINST PROPOSITION 51

Prop. 51 ensures that every California student has the opportunity to learn in safe, up–to–date schools while also protecting taxpayers.

PROP. 51 IS NOT A TAX INCREASE.

Prop. 51 is a bond that will be repaid from a very small amount of the state's EXISTING annual revenue to repair and upgrade local schools. It does NOT raise taxes.

PROTECTS TAXPAYERS FROM HIGHER LOCAL TAXES.

Without matching dollars from a statewide school bond, taxpayers will face higher local property taxes to pay for school repairs and upgrades, and some school districts may never be able to afford fixing schools on their own. This partnership between the state and local school districts has fairly funded school repairs for all students.

REQUIRES TOUGH ACCOUNTABILITY.

Prop. 51 puts local voters in control of how school bond monies are spent. It requires annual audits and tough accounting standards.

PROP. 51 MAKES PROTECTING STUDENTS A PRIORITY.

Many schools and community colleges are outdated and need repairs to meet basic health and safety standards—including retrofitting for earthquake safety, fire safety, and removing asbestos and lead paint and pipes. These repairs are critical to keeping every student safe.

YES ON PROP. 51.

Prop. 51 will help every California student get a quality education, increase access to an affordable college education, and improve vocational training for veterans and students preparing for the workplace.

Prop. 51 is supported by taxpayer groups, teachers, business, Republicans, and Democrats. See for yourself at www.californiansforqualityschools.com

Please join us in supporting Prop. 51.

CHRIS UNGAR, President

California School Boards Association

TERESA CASAZZA, President

California Taxpayers Association

LARRY GALIZIO, Chief Executive Officer

Community College League of California