December 11, 2014

C.A.S.H. is asking school districts to pass a school board resolution in support of a 2016 State School Bond.  Click here  to view a draft School Board resolution.

Despite the strong community support for schools, we know that all facilities needs cannot be met with local funds alone.  Thus, C.A.S.H. is continuing to develop alternatives to not having a November 2014 state school bond and exploring ways to increase school district access to local facilities funds.  C.A.S.H. is continuing to develop and investigate both short- term and long-term strategies that will hold the state accountable, per the Constitution’s commitment to schools, with the goal of preserving the successful state-local partnership.

On December 10, the Legislative Advisory Committee, chaired by Don Ulrich (Clovis Unified School District), will begin its work to develop school bond legislation and adjustments to the School Facility Program.  The Legal Advisory Committee, chaired by William Draa (Ripon Unified School District) is evaluating litigation options.

We anticipate that the Governor will release a proposal related to K-12 school facility funding as part of his January budget proposal.  We expect that the proposal will not include a school bond under the existing School Facility Program.  Instead, we anticipate the Governor to propose a pay-as-you go system not dependent upon General Obligation bond financing, likely requiring greater local participation and fewer State funds.  It is possible that he would propose a targeted distribution of funds, rather than the current first-come, first-serve model.  A significant question is whether he will propose funding school facilities inside Proposition 98, which would create tension between facilities and other school expenditures.  C.A.S.H. continues to believe that a firewall must exist between capital and operational funding.

The Governor’s January State Budget proposal will be released by the constitutional deadline of January 10.  After it is released, the Legislature will begin in-depth consideration of all policy shifts, including the school facilities proposal.   We also expect the Legislative Analyst’s Office to publish a report regarding school facility funding, in conjunction with the Governor’s State Budget proposal.

~Rebekah Cearley