February 04, 2004

Upcoming bond measure will affect campus

A $12.3 billion education bond that would include funding for all segments of public education will be on the ballot in March.

If passed, the bond would provide $10 billion to K-12 schools and $2.3 billion to higher education. Funds would be divided by a predetermined formula to provide for new construction as well as a backlog of renovation and repair projects.

The 23-campus California State University system, of which CSUS is a part, would receive $690 million.

At CSUS, the bond is scheduled to provide planning money for the Science II building, as well as a variety of minor capital projects. Under current plans, these include a third floor renovation in Sequoia Hall, renovations to the reprographics office, remodels of two rooms in Capistrano Hall, remodel of a department office in Kadema Hall, work in Santa Clara and Riverside halls, and work to various rooms in Mariposa Hall.

Since the 1980s the Legislature has determined that public funding for construction projects and major renovations at California public universities and colleges must be financed through voter-approved general obligation bonds. For a bond to qualify for the ballot, it must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature and the governor must sign it.

A previous bond provided $20.6 million to CSUS for upgrading infrastructure such as sewage pipes and wiring, as well as for safety upgrades across campus. That work continues.

An earlier bond, approved in 1998, provided funding for the University’s Academic Information Resource Center, a $17.3 million, 100,000 square-foot facility now under construction just south of the University Library. It will provide interactive learning labs, 24-hour student computer labs, library study areas, and facilities for the growing number of distance education classes.

Voter-approved bond funds and interest are repaid from state general funds, primarily income and sales tax. They do not require a tax increase, but do use state revenues.

The website of the group promoting the bond is at www.yeson55.com. There is currently no organized opposition, although State Sen. Rico Oller signed the ballot argument opposing the bond.

For more information, visit www.lao.ca.gov, www.ss.ca.gov or www.calstate.edu.

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