Measure for School Repair Funding Fails

MAX TRAN , SABRINA TANG News Editor , Staff Writer

There are numerous school districts in California which receive inadequate funding to repair or modernize many of their buildings. In response to this situation, lawmakers have proposed a statewide measure known as Proposition 13. Prop 13 failed to pass this week, however. According to the Associated press, the failed measure would have created a 15 billion dollar bond to build and maintain schools. 9 billion dollars of it would have gone to k-12 schools, with the priority being to address health and safety concerns around campus. Another 2.8  billion dollars would have gone to construction, and  500 million dollars was set to be used for charter schools and technical training. 

Although this proposition was opposed by 56% of voters, schools are still in need of funding for repairs. According to the New York Times, much of the reason why infrastructure in schools are in bad conditions is because many were built in the 1950s and 1960s. In fact, 10% of all public schools in California are 70 years or older. 

If prop 13 had passed, it might have helped tackle the problem of aging schools lined with asbestos or faulty plumbing. Improving these facilities makes attending school convenient, safe and well-equipped. Some students wish that the proposed measure had passed.

“I think it’s a good idea because our bathrooms are trash,” senior Rebecca Rodriguez said. “The doors don’t work. A toilet would be flooding.” 

Alhambra already has a plan in place for construction that has already begun this year due to the fire in A Building in January but other schools could still use help. 

Proposition 13 aimed to put a stop to the first-come, first-served process for the distribution of funds, which disproportionately helped wealthier schools that can hire consultants to focus on funding applications. 

 Opponents of the proposition argue that the bond would have taken away a huge amount from the state’s general fund.

 If it had passed, the bond would have added 740 million dollars to the budget every year.  The proposition was defeated on the ballot, with the “no” votes outnumbering “yes” votes by 500,000.