School bond in California will relieve overcrowding

Proposition 1D provides $7.3 billion for the modernization of existing schools and the construction of new ones. It also includes funds for charter school facilities, new career/ technical education facilities, earthquake safety measures for schools, and joint-use facilities. It passed with 56 percent of the vote.

The measure had the bipartisan backing of Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was easily re-elected Nov. 7; his opponent, Democratic State Treasurer Phil Angelides; the California Business Roundtable; and the California Taxpayers Association; as well as the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and other education groups.

Three other bond measures were passed -- for roads, flood control, and housing projects. The $37.3 billion total for all four measures is the largest instance of government borrowing in the nation’s history.

California voters soundly rejected Proposition 88, which would have raised about $454 million a year by amending the California constitution to impose the first statewide parcel tax in nearly a century. Only 23 percent of voters supported the measure. Opponents charged it was a stealth attack on the state’s landmark property tax revolt, Proposition 13, which was enacted in 1978.

CSBA opposed Proposition 88 because it was poorly drafted, the amount of the revenue generated would have been relatively small, it could have conflicted with local parcel tax efforts, and it could have discouraged citizens from supporting other revenue sources for schools.

CSBA also opposed another measure, rejected by voters, that would have made it difficult and expensive for state and local governments -- and school districts -- to use eminent domain to seize private property, which is sometimes necessary when building new schools.

Twelve states had ballot measures to restrict eminent domain, and California’s measure went much further than many of them.

Voters in Idaho and Washington also rejected curbs on eminent domain.