Governor Brown – Coalition for Adequate School Housing

Facility Planners Meeting Update – June 2016

Posted on June 1, 2016 by CASH

June 1, 2016

By CASH Staff

CASH_Logo_Web_Proof3 State Budget May Revision

K-12 School Facility Emergency Repair Revolving Loan Program

As CASH has previously reported, the Governor’s 2016-17 May Revision includes the K-12 School Facility Emergency Repair Revolving Loan Program which would provide $100 million in one-time Proposition 98 funds for bridge loans to school districts to address imminent emergency health and safety facilities repairs. School districts that receive a loan through this program would have the option of paying the loan off in full without interest within one year or having the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) structure a longer-term low interest loan. As loans are repaid, funds would be returned to the program and made available for emergency repairs at other sites.

In light of Budget Flexibility, the elimination of the Deferred Maintenance Program (DMP) under the LCAP, and conclusion of the Emergency Repair Program (ERP), state support for school maintenance has essentially been eliminated. Because health and safety are cornerstone priorities for our organization, CASH supported (with amendments to assist small rural school districts), the K-12 School Facility Emergency Repair Revolving Loan Program as a bridge to a more permanent solution to funding adequate school maintenance, though we do note that this loan program should be a floor, not a ceiling, with regard to support for school maintenance.

On May 17 and 18 the Senate Budget Subcommittee #1 on Education reviewed the proposed May Revision and voted to reject the proposal 2-1, arguing that changes to the facilities program should be made in the context of whether or not a statewide bond for school facilities passes in November, and that there are concerns about, “…the use of Proposition 98 for this purpose…” The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education also rejected this item. The Legislative Analysts’ Office (LAO) and the California Teachers Association (CTA) opposed the program. The Department of Finance (DOF), the California Department of Education (CDE), and CASH testified in support. It is not expected that this program will be included on the Budget Conference Committee agenda.

For the complete June 2016 Facility Planners Meeting Update, please click here.

Posted in Construction, Energy, General, Legislation, Maintenance & Operations, Planning & Architecture 2016 School Facilities Bond Initiative, 2016 State School Bond Initiative, Californians for Quality Schools, Coalition for Adequate School Housing, Facility Planners, Governor Brown, Kindergarten Through Community College Public Education Facilities Bond Act of 2016, May Revision, Routine Restricted Maintenance Account

Legislative Update: Governor’s Actions 2015

Posted on October 13, 2015 by CASH

October 13, 2015

The Legislature completed its business and went into interim recess on September 11, and the Governor had until midnight on Sunday, October 11 to sign or veto bills on his desk. Legislators will return to Sacramento on January 4, 2016, to kick off the second year of the 2015-16 legislative session, at which time bill introductions will begin again in earnest.

Posted in Legislation 2015-16 legislative session, AB 1347, AB 1358, AB 219, AB 552, AB 566, AB 715, Assessable Space, Automatic Liens, Claims Process, Climate Change, Department of defense, Design-Build Contracts, drinking water, Governor, Governor Brown, Lease-Leaseback, public works, SB 111, SB 222, SB 334, SB 350

Proposed Irrigation Water Efficiency Requirements

Posted on May 20, 2015 by CASH

05/19/15

Please see below for information regarding DSA’s proposed irrigation water efficiency requirements. Chet Widom provided some insight on the DSA regulation development process at today’s C.A.S.H. workshop in Sacramento, and C.A.S.H. staff have been coordinating with him to help provide feedback and expertise.

Posted in Legislation B-29-15, CALGreen, California Green Building Standards, Chet Widom, Division of the State Architect, drought state of emergency, DSA, Governor Brown, Governor's Executive Order

Californians Willing to Borrow Big in 2016 to Help Schools

Posted on April 24, 2015 by CASH

April 24, 2015

The following article was originally posted by KQED and written by John Myers on April 22, 2015 and is reprinted here with their permission.

[Editor’s Note: Periodically, we publish guest articles that we think inform readers on topics of interest. The article below by John Myers addresses Californian’s willingness to support a school facilities bond in 2016. Necessarily, the views and opinions of the author is his own, but we think the article below is interesting and informative.]

Posted in Legislation Governor Brown, PPIC, public policy institute of california, School Bond, State School Bond Initiative, statewide school bond

Governor's 2015-16 State Budget Includes New Proposal for School Facilities

Posted on January 9, 2015 by CASH

January 9, 2015

Governor Jerry Brown released his proposed 2015-16 State Budget, which proposes a new facilities program with a significantly reduced state role, and no state school bond or state funding for the current pipeline.

While details are far from flushed out, the general themes of the locally-funded school facility proposal are “Local Flexibility” and “Safety Net” (of some form). It includes components that aim to address both objectives, including expanding local funding capacity, restructuring developer fees, expanding the use of Routine Restricted Maintenance Account (RRMA), targeting state funding to overcrowded districts, and augmenting the Charter School Facility Grant Program.

Posted in General Charter School Facility Grant Program, Governor Brown, Governor's Budget, Routine Restricted Maintenance Account, RRMA, State Budget