Current Facilities Funding
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 2008, local bond elections generated $72.9 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 940 local G.O. bonds on the ballot under the two-thirds requirement from 1986 through 2008, 55% succeeded. Of the 538 bond measures relying on 55% approval between 2001 and 2008, 83% succeeded.
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.
California Spent More Than the National Average on Construction and Purchase of Land and Schools
California's overall capital expenditures are higher than the U.S. average and most of the other most populous states, according to 2005-06 capital expenditures data from SchoolDataDirect (see chart below). These figures likely reflect in part the high cost of land and construction in this state.
On the other hand, California has spent considerably less of its capital funding on equipment. California districts often rely on operating funds to buy new equipment in part because state bond programs have historically prohibited the use of that money for equipment. (However, Proposition 1D, which passed in November 2006, specified that funds can be used for career-technical education equipment.)
Data: SchoolDataDirect
EdSource 5/09
Projected Need for Facilities Funding
In 2008, the California Department of Education (CDE) projected that from 2008 to 2013, the state would need to build over 23,000 new classrooms and modernize more than 37,000 classrooms. Together, CDE projects that about 1.4 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 May 2009
