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California Proposition 2, Public Education Facilities Bond Measure (2024)

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California Proposition 2
Flag of California.png
Election date
November 5, 2024
Topic
Bond issues and Education
Status
Approveda Approved
Type
Bond issue		Origin
State Legislature

California Proposition 2, the Public Education Facilities Bond Measure was on the ballot in California as a legislatively referred bond act on November 5, 2024.[1][2] The ballot measure was approved.

A "yes" vote supported issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund construction and modernization of public education facilities.

A "no" vote opposed issuing $10 billion in bonds to fund construction and modernization of public education facilities.


Election results

See also: Results for education and school choice ballot measures, 2024

California Proposition 2

Result Votes Percentage

Approved Yes

8,820,842 58.70%
No 6,207,390 41.30%
Results are officially certified.
Source


Overview

What funding did Proposition 2 authorize?

See also: Measure design

Proposition 2 issued $10 billion in bonds, with $8.5 billion dedicated to elementary and secondary educational facilities and $1.5 billion for community college facilities. Proposition 2 made changes to the formula used to determine the amount each district was required to contribute to be eligible to receive state funding from the bond revenue. The measure required the state government to cover between 50 and 55% of construction project costs and 60 to 65% of modernization project costs.[2]

What was California's bonded debt capacity?

See also: Bond debt in California

The Legislative Analyst's Office reported that California was repaying an estimated $80 billion in bonded debt and was authorized to sell an outstanding $35 billion in bonds. The state spends approximately $6 billion from the General Fund (3% of the total fund) each year to repay bonds. The office estimated that the cost to repay Proposition 2 would be $500 million annually for 35 years.[3]

When was the last time California voters approved a bond measure to fund public education facilities?

See also: Bond issues on the ballot in California

California voters last approved a bond measure to fund public education facilities in 2016 with the approval of Proposition 51, which issued $9 billion in bonds to fund improvement and construction of school facilities for K-12 schools and community colleges. It was approved by a margin of 55.18% to 44.82%.

California voters defeated a bond measure, Proposition 13, to fund public education facilities in March 2020. It would have authorized $15 billion in general obligation bonds for school and college facilities, including $9 billion for preschool and K-12 schools, $4 billion for universities, and $2 billion for community colleges. Proposition 13 was the first statewide education-related bond issue that voters rejected since 1994. It was defeated, with 53.01% voting against the measure.

Measure design

See also: Text of measure

Click on the arrows (▼) below for summaries of the different provisions of California Proposition 2.

Funds for school districts: distribution and prioritization of bond funds for schools

Proposition 2 authorized the issuance of $10 billion in bonds, with $8.5 billion dedicated to elementary and secondary educational facilities and $1.5 billion for community college facilities. The law allocated the bond revenue according to the following schedule:[2]

  • $3 billion for new construction of school facilities, with up to 10% available to small school districts;
  • $4 billion for the modernization of school facilities, with up to 10% available to small school districts and $115 million for lead in water testing and remediation;
  • $600 million for charter school facilities;
  • $600 million for career technical education program facilities; and
  • $1.5 billion for California Community Colleges.

Proposition 2 made changes to the formula used to determine the amount each district was required to contribute to be eligible to receive state funding from the bond revenue. The measure required the state government to cover between 50 and 55% of construction project costs and 60 to 65% of modernization project costs.[2]

The law required school districts to submit a five-year school facilities master plan, approved by the school district governing board, to the Department of General Services to participate in the school facilities program. The plan was required to include an inventory of existing school facilities and classroom capacity, projected enrollment growth, a capital planning budget for the district, financing and other funding sources for the projects, the school district's current assessed value, and the district's deferred maintenance plan.[2]

Changes to local school bonds: rules for schools to raise revenue

Proposition 2 increased the maximum amount of bonded debt a school district could issue and still be eligible for financial hardship from $5 million to $15 million and set an annual inflation adjustment beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year. In California, school districts must place local general obligation bonds on the ballot, and the bond measure must receive 55% of the vote to be approved.[2]

Funds for higher education facilities: distribution and prioritization of bond funds for community colleges

Proposition 2 issued $1.5 billion in bonds to fund construction on existing and new campuses and the renovation of facilities. The measure authorized the bond revenue for purposes set by the state legislature in the annual state budget. It required any funding requests from the bond issue by the California Community Colleges to include a five-year capital outlay plan demonstrating the needs and priorities of the community college system, with a priority on seismic retrofitting.[2]

Accountability measures: reporting requirements

Proposition 2 required the governing board of a school district, charter school, or community college district to perform an independent audit of any projects funded in whole or in part by the bonds. The measure also required the audit to be published online by the governing board. Additionally, governing boards were required to hold at least one public hearing to solicit input on school district projects before requesting state funds.[2]


Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title was as follows:[4]

“ Authorizes bonds for public school and community college facilities. Legislative statute.[5] ”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary was as follows:[4]

“ Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade, and construction of facilities at K–12 public schools (including charter schools), community colleges, and career technical education programs, including for improvement of health and safety conditions and classroom upgrades. Requires annual audits.[5] ”

Fiscal impact

The fiscal impact statement was as follows:[4]

“ Increased state costs of about $500 million annually for 35 years to repay the bond.[5] ”

Full text

The full text of the ballot measure is below:[2]

Readability score

See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2024

Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The attorney general wrote the ballot language for this measure.

The FKGL for the ballot title is grade level 14, and the FRE is 1. The word count for the ballot title is 11.

The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 18, and the FRE is 4. The word count for the ballot summary is 41.


Support

Yes on Proposition 2-Coalition for Adequate School Housing Issues Committee and Yes on Proposition 2-Community College Facility Coalition Issues Committee led the campaign in support of Proposition 2.[6][7]

Supporters

Officials

Unions

  • California Faculty Association
  • California Federation of Teachers
  • California Labor Federation
  • SEIU California State Council
  • State Building and Construction Trades Council of California

Organizations

  • Alameda County Office of Education
  • Association of California School Administrators
  • California Alliance for Retired Americans
  • California Builders Alliance
  • California Building Industry Association
  • California Chamber of Commerce
  • California Retired Teachers Association
  • California School Boards Association
  • California School Library Association
  • California School Nurses Organization
  • California State PTA
  • Community College League of California
  • Equality California
  • League of Women Voters of California
  • Los Angeles Unified School District
  • The Trust for Public Land

Arguments

  • State Asm. Al Muratsuchi (D-66): "The bottom line is, any school bond that we place on the ballot is not going to cover the enormous needs of our K-12 schools and community colleges. But this money will help address the most urgent needs. … I am hopeful and optimistic that California voters will recognize that this is a good deal."
  • Rebeca Andrade, superintendent of Salinas City Elementary District in Monterey County: "This money is badly needed. We don’t have the money to make the basic, structural repairs that are needed at every one of our schools. Students need safe spaces to learn if they’re going to reach their full potential."


Opposition

Ballotpedia did not locate a campaign in opposition to the ballot measure.

Opponents

Officials

Candidates

Organizations


Arguments

  • Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R): "The $500 million per year that Proposition 2 will cost taxpayers is only the beginning. In order to receive any of the Prop. 2 bond funds from the state, local school districts must provide a 'local match' of up to 50%. This generally means school districts have to put local school bonds on the ballot. If approved by 55% of voters, these bonds will add new, extra charges to property tax bills. The borrowed money is paid back by raising property taxes. ... Tell the legislature you want more accountability, not more debt. Vote no on Proposition 2."
  • Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association: "Proposition 2 is $10 billion of bonds, new state debt, to pay for school facilities. It is almost certain to result in higher property tax bills, because school districts must provide a 'local match' of funds in order to receive money from the Prop. 2 state bonds. That will lead to districts issuing new local school bonds, which are paid for by adding new charges to property tax bills. Enrollment is declining in both K-12 district schools and community colleges and the declines are projected to continue. But Proposition 2 commits California to pay an estimated $18 billion, including interest, for school buildings that may not even be necessary. VOTE NO ON PROPOSITION 2."


Campaign finance

The campaign finance information on this page reflects the most recent scheduled reports that Ballotpedia has processed, which covered through December 31, 2024.


See also: Campaign finance requirements for California ballot measures

Ballotpedia identified five committees registered in support of Proposition 2 and none registered in opposition.[6]

Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures
Support $14,021,165.27 $923,054.19 $14,944,219.46 $13,791,738.92 $14,714,793.11
Oppose $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00
Total $14,021,165.27 $923,054.19 $14,944,219.46 $13,791,738.92 $14,714,793.11

Support

The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the ballot measure.[6]

Committees in support of Proposition 2
Committee Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions Cash Expenditures Total Expenditures
Yes on Prop 2, Sponsored by Nonprofit Education, Labor and Business Associations $10,585,090.26 $897,438.08 $11,482,528.34 $10,564,043.79 $11,461,481.87
Yes on Props 2 and 4, Sponsored by Nextgen California Action $1,700,000.00 $0.00 $1,700,000.00 $1,313,500.23 $1,313,500.23
Yes on Proposition 2 - Coalition for Adequate School Housing Issues Committee $1,443,525.01 $21,103.71 $1,464,628.72 $1,629,377.81 $1,650,481.52
Yes on Proposition 2 - Community College Facility Coalition Issues Committee $260,050.00 $4,012.40 $264,062.40 $262,634.57 $266,646.97
Assembly Member Liz Ortega California Freedom Ballot Measure Committee - Yes on Prop 2 and 3 $32,500.00 $500.00 $33,000.00 $22,182.52 $22,682.52
Total $14,021,165.27 $923,054.19 $14,944,219.46 $13,791,738.92 $14,714,793.11

Donors

The following table shows the top donors to the committees registered in support of the ballot measure.[6]

Donor Cash Contributions In-Kind Contributions Total Contributions
California Building Industry Association Issues Committee $2,775,000.00 $0.00 $2,775,000.00
California Teachers Association/Issues PAC $1,600,000.00 $618,880.01 $2,218,880.01
Kat Taylor $1,700,000.00 $0.00 $1,700,000.00
Members Voice of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California $1,000,000.00 $0.00 $1,000,000.00
Northern California Carpenters Regional Councils Issues PAC $350,000.00 $0.00 $350,000.00

Methodology

To read Ballotpedia's methodology for covering ballot measure campaign finance information, click here.

Media editorials

See also: 2024 ballot measure media endorsements

Support

The following media editorial boards published an editorial supporting the ballot measure:

  • Bay Area Reporter Editorial Board: "There are approximately 10,000 public schools statewide (including 1,300 charter schools) and 151 community colleges, according to the voter guide. Needless to say, many of the facilities are outdated and need repairs to meet basic health and safety standards, prepare students for college and 21st century careers, and retain and attract quality teachers, as proponents stated in the voter guide. This is a common sense measure that should be approved. Public schools and community colleges will benefit from this funding. Prop 2 also ensures that funding only be used for projects approved by local school and community college districts. Vote YES on Prop 2."
  • The Bakersfield Californian Editorial Board: "Two large bond measures will appear on California’s Nov. 5 statewide ballot. One proposes to fund long-delayed school improvements and the other responds to the consequences — such as massive wildfires, floods and droughts — of our changing climate. Both deserve voters’ support."
  • Los Angeles Times Editorial Board: "Thousands of California schools are in disrepair, waiting on critical upgrades to classrooms, roofs, plumbing and air-conditioning systems. But the state’s school repair fund is running out of money. ... Voters should support this well-crafted measure to invest in California schools. It would modernize classrooms and campuses, many of which have gone for so long without upgrades and repairs that they could charitably be called neglected, if not run-down."


Opposition

The following media editorial boards published an editorial opposing the ballot measure:

  • Bay Area News Group Editorial Board: "California’s program for funding school construction is broken, favoring local districts that already have access to money over those that don’t. A statewide $10 billion bond measure on the Nov. 5 ballot would perpetuate the inequity and continue to leave the state vulnerable to litigation. Voters should reject Proposition 2."
  • The Mercury News/East Bay Times Editorial Boards: "No: Prop. 2 fails to fix broken California school bond program. The measure’s funding for construction favors local districts that already have access to money over those that don’t."


Polls

See also: 2024 ballot measure polls
Are you aware of a poll on this ballot measure that should be included below? You can share ballot measure polls, along with source links, with us at editor@ballotpedia.org.
California Proposition 2, Public Education Facilities Bond Measure (2024)
Poll
Dates
Sample size
Margin of error
Support
Oppose
Undecided
Public Policy Institute of California 10/07/2024 - 10/15/2024 1,137 LV ± 3.1% 52.0% 46.0% 2.0%
Question: "Proposition 2 is called “Authorizes Bonds for Public School and Community College Facilities.” Legislative Statute. Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade, and construction of facilities at K–12 public schools (including charter schools), community colleges, and career technical education programs, including for improvement of health and safety conditions and classroom upgrades. Requires annual audits. The fiscal impact is increased state costs of about $500 million annually for 35 years to repay the bond. Supporters include the California Teachers Association; California School Nurses Organization; Community College League of California. Opponents include the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. If the election were held today, would you vote yes or no?"
Public Policy Institute of California 8/29/2024 - 09/11/2024 1,071 LV ± 3.7% 54.0% 44.0% 2.0%
Question: "Proposition 2 is called “Authorizes Bonds for Public School and Community College Facilities”. Legislative Statute. Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade, and construction of facilities at K-12 public schools (including charter schools), community colleges, and career technical education programs, including for improvement of health and safety conditions and classroom upgrades. Requires annual audits. The fiscal impact is increased state costs of about $500 million annually for 35 years to repay the bond. Supporters include the California Teachers Association; California School Nurses Organization; Community College League of California. Opponents include the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. If the election were held today, would you vote yes or no?"

Note: LV is likely voters, RV is registered voters, and EV is eligible voters.

Background

California Proposition 13 (March 2020)

See also: California Proposition 13, School and College Facilities Bond (March 2020)

In March 2020, California voters rejected Proposition 13 by a vote of 46.99% in support to 53.01% in opposition. Proposition 13 would have authorized the issuance of $15 billion in bonds for school and college facilities, including $9 billion for preschool and K-12 schools, $4 billion for universities, and $2 billion for community colleges. It was the first statewide education-related bond issue that voters rejected since 1994 when Propositions 1B and 1C were defeated.

Between 1994 and 2020, voters approved six bond measures for school facilities—Proposition 203 (1996), Proposition 1A (1998), Proposition 47 (2002), Proposition 55 (2004), Proposition 1D (2006), and Proposition 51 (2016).

Bond issues on the ballot in California

See also: Bond issues on the ballot

Californians cast ballots on 46 bond issues, totaling $200.536 billion in value, from January 1, 1993, through March 5, 2024. Voters approved 34 (74%) of the bond measures—a total of $163.054 billion. Nine of the measures were citizen initiatives, and six of the nine citizen-initiated bonds were approved. The legislature referred 37 bond measures to the ballot, and 28 of 37 legislative referrals were approved. The most common purposes of a bond measure between 1993 and 2024 were water infrastructure and housing, for which there were nine bond measures each.

Click show to expand the bond revenue table.

Bond debt in California

The Legislative Analyst's Office reported that California was repaying an estimated $80 billion in bonded debt and was authorized to sell an outstanding $35 billion in bonds. The state spends approximately $6 billion from the General Fund (3% of the total fund) each year to repay bonds.[8]

Path to the ballot

See also: Legislatively referred bond measures in California

A two-thirds (66.67%) vote is required during one legislative session for the California State Legislature to place a legislatively referred bond measure on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 54 votes in the California State Assembly and 27 votes in the California State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Bond measures do require the governor's signature.

This bond measure was introduced as Assembly Bill 247 (AB 247) on January 18, 2023. It passed the Assembly on May 25, 2023, by a vote of 66-0 with 14 absent. The Senate passed an amended version on July 3, 2024, by a vote of 34-3. The Assembly passed the amended version on July 3 by a vote of 72-1.[1]

Vote in the California State Senate
July 3, 2024
Requirement: Two-thirds (66.67 percent) vote of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 27  Approveda
YesNoNot voting
Total3433
Total percent85.0%7.5%7.5%
Democrat3101
Republican332
Vote in the California State Assembly
July 3, 2024
Requirement: Two-thirds (66.67 percent) vote of all members in each chamber
Number of yes votes required: 54  Approveda
YesNoNot voting
Total7216
Total percent91.1%1.3%7.6%
Democrat6101
Republican1115

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in California

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in California.

How to vote in California


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 247," accessed June 5, 2023
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 California State Legislature, "Assembly Bill 247," accessed June 5, 2023
  3. ↑ Legislative Analyst's Office, "Overview of State Bond Debt," accessed July 24, 2024
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 California Voter Guide, "Voter Guide," accessed September 13, 2024
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Cal-Access, "Proposition 2," accessed July 22, 2024 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "finance" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ Yes on Proposition 2, "Homepage," accessed November 1, 2024
  8. ↑ Legislative Analyst's Office, "Overview of State Bond Debt," accessed July 24, 2024
  9. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Section 3: Polling Place Hours," accessed August 12, 2024
  10. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Voter Registration," accessed August 13, 2024
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 California Secretary of State, "Registering to Vote," accessed August 13, 2024
  12. ↑ California Secretary of State, "Same Day Voter Registration (Conditional Voter Registration)," accessed August 13, 2024
  13. ↑ SF.gov, "Non-citizen voting rights in local Board of Education elections," accessed November 14, 2024
  14. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  15. ↑ California Secretary of State, "What to Bring to Your Polling Place," accessed August 12, 2024
  16. ↑ BARCLAYS OFFICIAL CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS, "Section 20107," accessed August 12, 2024
  17. ↑ Democracy Docket, "California Governor Signs Law to Ban Local Voter ID Requirements," September 30, 2024
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