July 31, 2000
UC Regents endorse Smaller Classes, Safer Schools, and Financial Accountability Act
By Mary Spletter
UC Office of the President
The University of California Board of Regents went on record during their July meeting
to support the Smaller Classes, Safer Schools, and Financial Accountability Act,
which will appear on the November 2000 general election ballot.
The measure amends the California Constitution to allow passage of local school bond
issues with a 55 percent vote, rather than the two-third vote currently required.
UC President Richard C. Atkinson recommended that the Regents endorse the Act. "This
measure matters as much to UC as it does to the K-14 system, because we depend on
the schools and the community colleges to give students the academic foundation they
must have to succeed at the university," he said.
"Passage of this measure is critically important to the future of quality education
in California," said Regent Chair S. Sue Johnson. "Both K-12 and higher
education will benefit if this measure passes."
Johnson added, "It was agonizing to see Proposition 26 so narrowly defeated
in the March 2000 primary election ballot. We know that it is needed to help prepare
for the expected influx of new students over the next decade and to maintain safe
schools where California students will have the best chance to learn."
The Board of Regents supported Prop. 26, which authorized simple majority approval
for local school bonds. That measure was defeated by a 51 percent to 49 percent margin.
The only significant change in the new measure is that the approval threshold has
been increased from a simple majority to 55 percent.
Along with lowering the threshold of votes to pass local school bonds, the measure
improves accountability for bonds by including annual performance and financial audits
and a requirement that a specific list of projects to be built with bond money be
provided to voters.
Governor Gray Davis is chair of the campaign to pass the Smaller Classes, Safer Schools,
and Financial Accountability Act and has announced that former governor Pete Wilson
will serve as co-chairman of the campaign. The Secretary of State's Office were scheduled to issue
the November 2000 ballot measures for public display on July 25.
Organizations that have endorsed the measure include: the American Federation of
State, County, and Municipal Employees; the California Building Industry Association;
California Business Roundtable; California Chamber of Commerce; California Manufacturers
and Technology Association; California School Boards Association; California State
PTA; and California State University.
The only known opposition at the present time is the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Organization.
The Board met July 19-20 in San Francisco.
