California voters have approved a number of statewide and local bond measures to help build and maintain school facilities. However, the California Department of Education projects a continuing need for new facilities.

State Bond Proceeds

Statewide measures require a simple majority for approval. Since 1998, voters have approved four statewide bond measures for new construction and modernization of K-12 schools: $6.7 billion in 1998, $11.4 billion in 2002, $10 billion in 2004, and most recently $7.3 billion in November 2006. The measures totaled $35.4 billion.

Local G.O. Bond Results

From 1986 through November 2009, local bond elections generated about $73 billion for school facilities. School districts can seek approval for local general obligation bonds for school construction or renovation, to be repaid through property taxes. They have two options for passing a bond:

• hold a two-thirds election at whatever time they choose and with few oversight requirements, or
• pursue a 55% approval if they put the bond measure on a regularly scheduled ballot, limit the size of the bond, and agree to abide by several administrative requirements.

Of the 939 local G.O. bonds on the ballot under the two-thirds requirement from 1986 through 2009, 514 (55%), succeeded. Of the 540 measures relying on 55% approval between 2001 and 2009, 451 (84%) succeeded.

  Data: EdSource 1/11

Facility District Bonds That Have Passed

Since 1983 districts have been allowed to tax a portion of their districts by establishing a Mello-Roos Community Facility District, which requires a two-thirds vote. From 1983 through 2008, 62 Mello-Roos elections were held and 30 (48%) succeeded.

Beginning in 1998, districts were able to establish a School Facility Improvement District (SFID), which also taxes just a portion of the district and initially required a two-thirds vote. Since July 2001, SFIDs could also be approved by 55% of voters (with added restrictions). From 1998 through 2008, 42 SFID elections were held. Of the 17 under the two-thirds requirement, three (18%) passed. Of the 25 under the 55% approval threshold, 21 (84%) passed.

Projected Need for Facilities Funding

In 2009, the California Department of Education (CDE) projected that from 2009 to 2014, the state will need to build almost 22,000 new classrooms and modernize more than 35,000 classrooms. Together, CDE projects that almost 1.5 million students will need new and remodeled classrooms during the five-year period. CDE bases its estimates on 25 students per K–6 classroom and 27 students per 7–12 classroom. 

Last updated March 2010