California school districts are losing the bond votes they rely on for school repairs. But why do they have to rely on voter-approved bonds when California already spends an obscene amount of money on education (and everything else)?
Around three dozen school districts are on pace to lose bond votes at the ballot box, despite school districts up and down the state asking for less money than in previous election cycles, when bonds have passed pretty easily. Such districts on track to fail include Visalia Unified, which was seeking $158 million to begin $600 million in repairs, with 70% of the district’s buildings being 50 years or older. The districts seeing their bonds pass are typically richer districts, giving them access to matching state funds that less wealthy districts will miss out on if their bonds don’t pass.
