California Proposition 39, Decrease Supermajority from Two-Thirds to 55% for School Bonds Amendment (2000)

California Proposition 39
Election date November 7, 2000
Topic Supermajority requirements
Status a Approved
Type Amendment & Statute	Origin Citizens

California Proposition 39 was on the ballot as a combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute in California on November 7, 2000. It was approved.

A "yes" vote supported this constitutional amendment to reduce the supermajority requirement from two-thirds to 55% for voters to pass local school bond measures.

A "no" vote opposed this constitutional amendment, thus keeping the supermajority requirement at two-thirds for voters to pass local school bond measures.

Election results

California Proposition 39
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		5,431,152	53.31%
No		4,756,311	46.69%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition 39 was as follows:

“

School Facilities. 55% Local Vote. Bonds, Taxes. Accountability Requirements. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

Authorizes bonds for repair, construction or replacement of school facilities, classrooms, if approved by 55% local vote for projects evaluated by schools, community college districts, county education offices for safety, class size, and information technology needs. Accountability requirements include annual performance and financial audits on use of bond proceeds. Prohibits use of bond proceeds for salaries or operating expenses. Requires facilities for public charter schools. Authorizes property taxes in excess of 1% limit by 55% vote, rather than current two-thirds, as necessary to pay school bonds.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Fiscal impact statement

The fiscal impact statement was as follows:

“

Increased debt costs for many school districts, depending on local voter approval of future school bond issues (these costs would vary by individual district). District costs throughout the state could total in the hundreds of millions of dollars each year within a decade. Potential longer-term state savings to the extent local school districts assume greater responsibility for funding school facilities.

”

Support

Supporters

• L. John Doerr and Ann Howland Doerr
• John Walton
• Reed Hastings

Opposition

Opponents

• Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Path to the ballot

In California, the number of signatures required for a combined initiated constitutional amendment and state statute is equal to 8 percent of the votes cast at the preceding gubernatorial election. For combined initiatives filed in 2000, at least 670,816 valid signatures were required.

See also

2000 Measures

• 2000 Measures
• Ballot measure supermajority requirements on the ballot
• Ballot measure process on the ballot
• Public education funding on the ballot
• Bond issues on the ballot
• 2000 legislative sessions

California

• California ballot measures
• California ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• 2000 General Election Voter Guide