November 10, 2016
This past Tuesday, November 8, voters and local communities continued to demonstrate their support for school facilities.
Please click here for CASH’s preliminary list of local school bonds and parcel tax measures on the November 8 ballot.
~ CASH Staff
November 7, 2016
The Legislature completed the 2015-16 Legislative Session on August 31 and adjourned for final recess at that time. The Governor had until September 30 to sign or veto bills passed in the last weeks of the Session. The legislature returns briefly on December 5 to convene the new 2017-18 Legislative Session, then will immediately adjourn for recess until January, at which time they will begin to introduce new bill proposals for consideration.
The CASH legislative advocacy team had a successful year, highlighted by CASH’s engagement in and support of two significant bills. AB 2316 (O’Donnell) creates a competitive selection process for Lease-Leaseback based on the best value methodology. SB 693 (Hueso) addresses implementation challenges for various skilled workforce bills, including AB 566 (2015). The CASH legislative team monitored and took positions on many bills, including some involving school siting, seismic safety, local debt policy, storm water, energy and other critical issues for the school facilities community.
~ CASH Staff
November 2, 2016
On Friday, October 28, the Third Court of Appeals denied California Building Industry Association’s (CBIA) appeal against the State Allocation Board’s action on May 25, 2016.
On Tuesday, November 1, 2016, the State Allocation Board issued a letter pertaining to its action on May 25, 2016 determining that state funds are no longer available for school facility construction. This determination is required in order for school districts to charge Level III developer fees. Per the requirements of Government Code Section 65995.7(a), the letter was sent to the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the Assembly, and it indicates that funds are no longer available effective May 25, 2016.
For more information, see the Board’s letters and the May 25 agenda item here:
https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/opsc/SAB_Agenda_Items/2016-05/Senate_Assembly_Notification_Letters.pdf
~ CASH Staff
October 27, 2016
Thank you for your continued support of Prop 51 and safe schools for our students. With your help, the Proposition 51 campaign has gained broad and diverse support throughout the state of California.
In addition to our TV spots featuring a teacher and a school nurse, our “Sí a la Prop 51” video with former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has been running on Univision.com to engage our Spanish speaking audience.
You can watch and share Mayor Villaraigosa’s Spanish-language video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/DX0pis6T360
From now until Election Day the videos will be running on Univision.com. Take a look at today’s ads on the Los Angeles homepage!
http://www.univision.com/los-angeles/kmex
Let’s continue to urge our contacts to vote Yes on 51 to repair and upgrade older schools, keeping the promise of a quality education in California. Please continue to show your support by sharing a link to Mayor Villaraigosa’s video and using our hashtag, #YesOn51.
ICYMI: Yes on Proposition 51
By Teresa Casazza | October 20, 2016
“In November, California taxpayers will have a number of initiatives to consider, including one – Proposition 51 – that will make an important investment in California’s aging school facilities.
California’s schools are showing their age. Approximately 30 percent are more than 50 years old, and many need major renovations to meet basic health and safety standards. Also, many counties are growing, and need new schools that are well-equipped to prepare students to enter the workforce or the higher education system.
Proposition 51, a state school facilities bond, will help school districts fix and repair outdated schools and build new schools where needed. The measure will replenish the School Facility Program Fund so that districts can access matching state funds and protect local taxpayers from higher taxes…
If Proposition 51 isn’t approved, how will school districts meet their needs? Through local tax increases on property owners – taxes that hurt communities, harm small businesses and increase housing costs for working families, renters, and homeowners…
October 17, 2016
Minutes
The minutes from the August 17, 2016 meeting were approved unanimously.
Executive Officer Statement
Lisa Silverman provided updates on the following:
By Modesto Bee Editorial Board | October 13, 2016
“…The bond issue would make $3 billion available in state matching grants for new school construction. More important to communities that have seen declines in student populations, it would provide $3 billion for districts to renovate, update and modernize older schools. There’s money for charter schools, community colleges, and technical education programs.
Don’t doubt the need is dire. A Modesto City Schools study put the district’s capital facilities needs at $1 billion. That’s probably vastly overstated, but the need is clear. So is the need for modernization on most campuses.
Too many Valley districts are forced into choosing between making repairs keep students safe and investing in the updates and innovations that will prepare students for 21st-century jobs. By necessity, those choices veer toward safety and away from a better future.
If Proposition 51 passes, 24 school districts in Stanislaus, south San Joaquin, and Tuolumne counties will be eligible to benefit. In Merced and Mariposa counties, another eight districts will be eligible. Combined, it could mean $149 million in new facilities for the Northern San Joaquin Valley.
In Stanislaus County, there are six school bond measures on the ballot this November; all will make a good case for matching funds if Proposition 51 passes.
…Both the California Democratic and Republican parties endorse Proposition 51 along with the California Chamber of Commerce, California Labor Federation, and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom.
We can never be certain our legislature will ever get around to helping us prepare for the students we are certain will be arriving. Vote yes on Proposition 51; California’s 6.2 million students are depending on it.”
Read the full article here at The Modesto Bee website.
BY THE MERCED SUN-STAR EDITORIAL BOARD | October 13, 2016
From Los Angeles to San Francisco to Sacramento and back again, public policy officials have been wailing over California’s housing shortage and resulting high prices.
Median-priced California homes cost $469,000. More Californians rent than do residents of any other state except New York. Even a parking space in San Francisco costs $500 a month. The law of supply-and-demand insists a building boom is imminent. If the past is a prelude, that boom will echo throughout the Northern San Joaquin Valley.
Consider: a house payment in San Francisco consumes 95 percent of a resident’s median income. But in Merced County it’s only 40 percent. In Stanislaus County it’s 44 and San Joaquin 51. We’ve always been a magnet for Bay Area families seeking affordable housing; when the next wave arrives, many will have children in tow. And those children will need schools.
Which brings us to Proposition 51.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Erin Shaw
October 12, 2016
Yes on Prop 51 Campaign Announces Endorsement From State Treasurer Chiang
Today, the Yes on Proposition 51 campaign announced that California State Treasurer John Chiang has endorsed the state school facilities bond on the November ballot. Proposition 51 will provide new bonding authority to help districts bring school facilities up to basic and health safety standards, complete major renovations to aging facilities like seismic retrofits and the removal of hazardous material and build new schools where needed.
“Our kids deserve schools where they can be safe and succeed,” said Chiang. It’s been 10 years since we passed a statewide school bond, and Prop 51 will repair and upgrade older schools, relieve classroom overcrowding and make sure all schools meet basic health and safety standards. It is the right way to repair and upgrade schools while protecting taxpayers.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Erin Shaw
October 10, 2016
Yes on Prop 51 Campaign Announces Endorsement From the California State Assembly Speaker
Today, the Yes on Proposition 51 campaign announced that California State Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D- Paramount) has endorsed the state school facilities bond on the November ballot. Proposition 51 will provide new bonding authority to help districts bring school facilities up to basic and health safety standards, complete major renovations to aging facilities like seismic retrofits and the removal of hazardous material and build new schools where needed.
“Our schools desperately need Proposition 51 to fix and update aging schools. Vote on Proposition 51 to make sure we can continue to serve our students and teachers by providing quality teaching and learning environments,” said Speaker Rendon. “Without matching state grant funds, many schools across California will shelve repairs, renovation and improvement projects, or face astronomical increases in local taxes and fees that would be devastating to our schools, neighborhoods, and communities. Join me in supporting our kids and educators for better and safer schools.”