Feb. 13, 2004

March 2 Ballot Will Include Bond Issues
Helping K-12 Schools, Colleges, Universities

By Pat JaCoby

A statewide bond issue that would provide $12.3 billion to strengthen, repair and build public education facilities in California—including a number of projects at the University of California, San Diego—will go before California voters on the March 2 ballot.

The measure, Proposition 55, asks for bond approval to help public K-12 schools, colleges and universities alleviate overcrowded classrooms, make badly needed seismic and other repairs on aging buildings, and upgrade university facilities in engineering and scientific fields that will fuel California’s future economic growth.

At UCSD, nearly $110 million in capital funds would be allocated from passage of Proposition. 55. Projects slated for funding include the Mayer Hall Addition and Renovation, Pharmaceutical Sciences Building, Student Academic Services Facility, Satellite Utilities Plant, Applied Physics and Mathematics Renovation, SIO Research Support Facilities, Music Building, Biomedical Library Renovation and Addition, and Structural and Materials Engineering Building.

While opponents are concerned about the fiscal impacts of bond measures, Proposition 55 supporters argue that these new bonds would allow the state to take advantage of historically low interest rates while at the same time creating an estimated 250,000 new jobs for Californians.

Proposition 55 has been endorsed by a broad coalition of education, business and taxpayer groups, including the California Taxpayers Association, the Chamber of Commerce, California State PTA and California Teachers Association. At this time, Proposition 55 opponents include the National Tax Limitation Committee and the 60-Plus Association.

Additional information about Proposition 55 is available at http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/prop55.

Also appearing on the March 2 ballot will be Propositions 57 and 58, which address the state’s budget problems. Because of the economic downturn of the past two years, the amount of state funding available for the University and other important programs has received millions in cuts, and additional cuts are included in the proposed budget for next year. These cuts assume that voters will approve Propositions 57 and 58; if not, even deeper cuts may be required.

Media Contacts: Pat JaCoby, (858) 534-7404 or Barry Jagoda, (858) 534-8567