Proposition 39
By Daily Bruin Staff
Nov. 5, 2000 9:00 p.m.
PROPOSITION 39
School Facilities. 55 percent Local Vote. Bonds, taxes.
Accountability requirements.
Many of California’s public schools are overcrowded,
underfunded and in desperate need of expansion and repair.
Proposition 39 would make authorizing bonds easier, thereby
providing much-needed funds to local school districts.
By reducing the margin needed to pass school bonds from
two-thirds to 55 percent, Proposition 39 empowers voters to
allocate money to improve public schools.
California remains one of only a few states in the country that
still requires a two-thirds vote to pass school bonds.
Though some say Proposition 39 could lead to reckless spending,
the measure has safeguards which prevent bond funds from being used
for administrative salaries or operating expenses. It also sets up
a citizen’s watchdog committee and requires annual
independent audits to ensure schools are spending the money
properly. Clearly, the money will only be used to improve school
facilities.
The major drawback of the initiative ““ a potential
increase in property taxes ““ seems a fair price to pay to
help repair California’s decaying classrooms.
