Ballot Proposition Will Benefit County

Voters who review their sample ballot and Official Voter Information Guide to the March 2 primary election won’t see a section labeled “What This Means for Orange County.”

Yet, College of Business and Economics Dean Anil Puri has zeroed in on that very aspect of Proposition 55, the Kindergarten-University Education Facilities Bond Act of 2004 – one of two statewide bond measures on the ballot. Puri, well-known for his annual OC economic forecasts, has analyzed the fiscal impact of the education bond measure.

His projections indicate that the bond will generate $1.6 billion in economic activity for Orange County, creating 11,000 new jobs and generating $574 million in wages.

Those projections are based upon the hundreds of construction and renovation projects that will be launched countywide, if voters approve the measure next month.

Most of the Proposition 55 bond money is earmarked for K-12 projects, including $973 million to repair and enhance schools. From the funding targeted for higher education, $50 million is designated for Cal State Fullerton.

The county’s education chief sees a link between economics and education: “Quality schools produce educated, employable citizens, create local jobs and drive down crime rates,” noted Orange County Superintendent William M. Habermehl, a Cal State Fullerton alumnus (M.S. education ’73). “Good schools also attract families and business to the region, enhance property values and broaden the local revenue base.”

Proposition 55 is characterized by Habermehl as an investment in the state’s children. Those who do not favor its passage are concerned about the state’s indebtedness. State Sen. Rico Oller (R-San Andreas), who filed official arguments against the measure, has said that given the state’s budget crisis, even without new bonds, increasing California’s debt load will make it more difficult for the state to respond to natural disasters and recessions. He also is concerned that today’s school children will be paying for this bond long after their own children have graduated.

Various business, civic and education groups are aligned in support of the measure, including the Orange County Business Council, the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce, Brea Chamber of Commerce and California Taxpayers Association, along with the California State PTA and California Teachers Association.

Arguments for and against the measure are available on the website of the Office of the California Secretary of State at www.SS.CA.gov and in a related story (this page). An article in the Feb. 5 edition of Dateline outlined the bond-related projects slated for Cal State Fullerton-go to http://campusapps.fullerton.edu/news/university/2004/proposition_55.html.