School Bond Vote

Re “Put State School Bond to a June Vote,” Commentary, Feb. 4:

John D’Amelio insists that classrooms can only be built with more debt or more taxes: “We need state bond dollars for this; the alternatives are increased local property taxes or higher impact fees charged on new housing.”

California, like most other states, continues to spend the same per capita amount on education as it did 40 years ago, adjusting for the dollar’s purchasing power and not counting spending on special education programs that do not affect most students. Forty years ago, California had explosive population growth, yet managed to build enough classrooms without very many local bonds. A study of our local school districts’ fiscal histories would quickly show how to build more classrooms without raising taxes or passing more bonds: reform the state’s school building program.

D’Amelio mentioned that reform of the state school building program was “on the table” in Sacramento, but he didn’t call for that to be put on the ballot in June, even though he said “this situation can’t wait.” Why is it that career public employees “can wait” to let the voters decide on a bond measure, but can’t even think of letting them vote on spending reform measures?

W. SNOW HUME

Fullerton