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February 2, 2004
Fact sheet on Proposition 55
This fact sheet has been prepared by the office of Government &
CommunIty Relations at UCSC.
The Kindergarten-University Public Education Facilities Bond Act,
Proposition 55, on the March 2 ballot, seeks voter approval for a $12.3
billion bond measure to relieve overcrowding, accommodate new enrollments,
make overdue safety repairs, and upgrade California's elementary, middle
and high schools, community colleges, and universities.
Proposition 55 is a general obligation bond that will not raise taxes.
Funding for Higher Education Facilities
If approved by voters, Proposition 55 would provide the three segments
of higher education– the University of California, the California
State University, and the California Community Colleges – with
$2.3 billion. UC’s share would be $690 million. Proposition 55
would provide about half of the amount necessary to fully fund UC’s
annual capital outlay needs in the coming years.
Proposition 55 will help UC fund capital improvements in several areas:
• Earthquake and Life Safety: The bond will help UC make
seismic and other safety repairs in aging classroom, lab, and office
buildings, including hospital facilities. UC has given seismic repairs
a high priority in its capital program and is using the latest information
from recent earthquakes around the world to make these safety improvements.
• More Space for Enrollment Growth: Rapid enrollment growth
over the past decade has made it essential to fix old and outdated classrooms,
expand facilities, and build new classrooms to meet existing student
needs at UC campuses--as well as California Community Colleges and CSU
campuses. New UC facilities are needed to accommodate a surge of 64,000
additional students expected by 2010. This is greater than the current
enrollments of UC Berkeley and UCLA combined.
• Create Tomorrow’s Qualified Workforce: It is essential
that research and instructional facilities at UC campuses be upgraded
as technologies and academic programs evolve. Several Prop. 55-funded
projects would construct major new facilities for programs in engineering,
environmental health and safety, and the sciences, fields that UC has
targeted for expansion as part of our effort to continue to contribute
to the economic and cultural climate of California. Additional information
is available online.
Accountability and other provisions
The bill authorizing the bonds includes independent audits, cost controls,
and other accountability safeguards against waste and mismanagement.
These include amendments to the California Education Code that hold
school districts and the university strictly accountable for the proper
expenditure of funds. Funds can only be spent to repair or build schools,
not on administration. According to the State Attorney General Summary
on Prop. 55, “Funds will be targeted to areas of greatest need
and must be spent according to strict accountability measures.”
It also includes provisions to increase energy efficiency in school
buildings, tighten seismic safety standards, and establish standards
for the distribution of school facility financing funds.
Target funds where they’re needed most
Proponents and opponents both acknowledge that we need new schools.
Prop. 55 targets funds to upgrade school facilities and repair and build
classrooms where the need is greatest. Prop. 55 provides specific funding
to build new schools in areas where classrooms are severely overcrowded
and to fix schools that are old and rundown. New and growing communities
also receive their fair share to build the schools and classrooms they
need.
Create Jobs and Boost the Economy
School construction is a direct investment in the local economy. Studies
show Prop. 55 will create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and add
billions in local economic activities throughout California. “California’s
economy is capable of supporting Proposition 55,” according to
State Treasurer Phil Angelides. “It’s a sound, prudent investment
that will contribute to our future economic prosperity.”
Supporters and Opponents
Proposition 55 supporters include
the UC Board of Regents, the California State PTA, California Teachers
Association, California Federation of Teachers, California Chamber of
Commerce, California Taxpayers’ Association, League of Women Voters
of California, Congress of California Seniors, California State University,
California Community Colleges, California School Boards Association,
and the California Business Roundtable.
The opposition campaign is not yet organized, but signers of the
opposing ballot argument include State Senator Rico Oller, the National
Tax Limitation Committee, the California
Republican Assembly, and the 60-Plus Association. www.protecttaxpayers.com
For a full text of the ballot arguments, visit the Secretary of State’s
web site at http://voterguide.ss.ca.gov/propositions/prop55-title.html
UC SANTA CRUZ PROJECTS FUNDED BY PROPOSITION 55
Proposed 2004-05:
• Alterations for Engineering, phase 2, $4,002,000 for construction.
• McHenry project, $1,461,000 for working drawings.
• Seismic corrections, $7,514,000 for working drawings and construction.
• Alterations for Engineering, phase 3, $389,000 for preliminary
plans and working drawings.
• Digital Arts Facility $1,330,000 for preliminary plans.
Tentatively proposed for 2005-06:
• McHenry project, $32,002,000 for construction.
• Alterations for Engineering, phase 3, $3,942,000 for construction.
• Digital Arts Facility, $841,000 for working drawings.
• Humanities and Social Sciences Facility, $ 2,000,000 for equipment.
• Infrastructure improvements, $465,000, for preliminary plans
and working drawings.
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