The B Word Project
The B Word Project: Prop 51 Money for Schools
Prop 51: School Bonds. Funding For K–12 School And Community College Facilities. Initiative Statute.
Prop 51 Explanation By CSULB B Word Team B
Prop 51 calls for major money to be allotted to schools in California. The bond money raised by Prop 51 would be used to repair, upgrade, and improve California’s K-12 public schools and community colleges. The proposition would authorize $9 billion in general bonds. The money would be divided like this:
- $3 billion will go to school construction
- Another $3 billion will go to modernization in K-12 campuses
- $1 billion will go to charter schools and vocational education facilities
- The remaining will go to community college campuses.
What Prop 51 Means
The expansion of the K-12 school facilities and community colleges, as well as updating some of their facilities, will allow more students to attend these schools. The goal is to relieve overcrowded classrooms. There are currently California 8.3 million students attending its K-12 system and community colleges.
The ‘yes’ vote for proposition 51 is supported by senators and state assemblymen from both the Democratic and Republican parties.
The ‘no’ vote is supported by legislators who are concerned about providing fair school funding and not leaving disadvantaged schools behind. The proposition is opposed by Governor Jerry Brown as well as the Libertarian Party of California.
The Fiscal Impact of Prop 51
The state will pay an estimated $17.6 billion to pay off both the principal of $9 billion with a reminder of $8.6 billion to pay off the bond’s interest. Payments equal $500 million per year for 35 years.
The Pros and Cons of the Proposition
PRO
- The money can help colleges and k-12 schools improve their earthquake and fire safety standards
- The improved classrooms will be able to help children with their academic needs
- Expanding community colleges will make them more accessible to California residents
- The proposition has support from both the democratic and republican party
- Classroom technologies will be updated to meet today’s modern standards
- The money invested in the school infrastructure will create more room for classrooms, labs, and other educational rooms; this way classroom size will shrink and more teachers will be able to join the workforce.
- The bonds from this project will lower property taxes for the school and it’s surroundings.
- Expanding the structure of community colleges will lower the costs of attending schools, which will allow Veterans and prospective students.
- There will be improvement across technical education in some of the high schools programs (such as ROP) and expand those in community college and trade schools.
- Improving the infrastructure of already established schools will remove any reminder of asbestos and any mold the older buildings still contain
CON
- “One size fits all” bond package
- Very expensive. Will create a huge debt for the state when California is already in debt.
- Not only will tax dollars be funding this. For the K-12 system, local communities will be required to contribute as well for their specific projects. They will be paying twice.
- Taxes not increasing for this which mean only means more debt.
- Encourages the building of new schools, over remodeling old ones.
- Was created for greedy developers to exploit taxpayers for profit
- Stops legislators from providing fair school funding
- Disadvantaged schools are left behind
- Funding will go to those first in line which are the wealthy districts
- The wealthy districts will get the most portion of the money when disadvantaged schools should be receiving all the help
For More Information
- California Secretary of State Proposition 51
- Ballot.Fyi
- You Ballot Guide Map to California’s 17 Propositions
Photo by eli.pousson
Photo by cogdogblog
