Davis Supports 2002 Bond Issue to Build Schools

Gov. Gray Davis announced his support Thursday for a statewide vote next year on school construction bonds of as much as $12 billion, while legislative leaders called for other bond proposals aimed at spurring housing construction and aiding the slowing economy.

Speaking at a school in Anaheim, Davis said he will urge legislators to approve a bond measure of $10 billion to $12 billion for the ballot in March or November, saying the measure would help ease school crowding and give the economy a boost.

“We need to build smaller schools. We need to build more schools,” Davis said, adding that a bond “provides classrooms we need, and it provides jobs that we need.”

Senate President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco), meanwhile, called for a $2-billion bond, probably on the November ballot, to pay for low- and moderate-cost housing. Money would be used to help finance housing for senior citizens, farm workers and first-time home buyers.

“Housing is something I’m going to insist on,” Burton said.

At the end of the legislative session in September, legislators had been considering a $22-billion school construction package, with bonds for the ballot next year and in 2004. But Republicans, while endorsing a school construction bond, argued that too much of the money was earmarked for urban schools in Los Angeles. Some legislators say Davis failed to push for passage.

“Better late than never,” Senate Republican leader Jim Brulte of Rancho Cucamonga said Thursday, contending that Davis did not get heavily involved in the legislative debate in September. “One word from the governor, and we would have had a school bond on the March ballot.”

At this point, legislators doubt there is enough time to reach a compromise on a major school construction bond for a March vote. And even if a compromise could be reached quickly, the California Teachers Assn., which probably would provide most of the money for a campaign, believes chances of winning voter approval are better in November.

“It is much wiser to wait until November,” said John Hein, governmental relations director for the teachers union.

With a hotly contested Republican gubernatorial primary election, Hein and other political experts assume there will be a significant turnout in March of more conservative voters, who often oppose bonds. In the November general election, however, more Democrats may turn out, and they tend to support bond measures.

“The polling is better for a vote in November and the voters’ sentiment toward passing bonds will be greater in November,” said Kevin Gordon, executive director of the California Assn. of School Business Officials.

Gordon, Hein and others added that there may be support for a March vote on a smaller economic stimulus package that would include bond money for some construction of schools, housing and other projects. Voters already will be considering a $2.6-billion parks bond on the March ballot, and a $200-million bond to upgrade California’s voting machines.

Government often uses voter-approved general obligation bonds to pay for construction because the costs can be repaid over 10 or 20 years. The state is paying roughly $2.6 billion this year to cover principal and interest costs of past bonds.