Fact Sheet: Proposition 55 and the Central Coast
Proposition 55 is a statewide education bond on the March 2 ballot in California.
If approved by California voters, Proposition 55 would bring more than $71 million in direct dollars to the Central Coast in funding for remodeling or replacing school, college and university classrooms, buildings and equipment that range from 30 to 50 years old. That $71 million includes:
• $35 million to Cal
Poly in San Luis Obispo
• $15 million to Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria
• $12 million to Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles
• $10 million, at least, to K-12 schools throughout San Luis Obispo
County, particularly in Atascadero.
Much of the $72 million would be spent locally in areas such as construction work, supplies, design and equipment.
According to a conservative estimate by the UC Santa Barbara Economic Forecast Project, the proposed $28.5 million in Proposition 55 construction at Cal Poly alone would boost the Central Coast’s economy by an additional $57 to $85.5 million. The total boost to the local economy from the combined $71 million in project funding on the Central Coast could range from $142 to $213 million.
The $71 million in Proposition 55 funding for the Central Coast would be used for remodeling and replacement construction work and equipment including:
• At Cal Poly, replacing
a collection of 30 to 50-year-old architecture, engineering and industrial
technology classrooms with a new multi-story architecture and construction
management building
• At Allan Hancock College, replacing overcrowded science classrooms
built 42 years ago with a new science and health occupations complex that
will include state-of-the-art math, physical and biological sciences equipment
and nursing, medical and dental science labs and nursing, medical and
dental science labs and classrooms.
• At Cuesta College, a new library and learning resource center
for the North County Campus in Paso Robles, including equipment and books,
plus design work for remodeling the 30 year-old science classrooms at
the San Luis Obispo campus.
• In Atascadero, repair and remodeling for K-12 classrooms at: Santa
Rosa Elementary (built 1958) Santa Margarita Elementary (built 1951);
and Monterey Road Elementary (built 1958); and classroom wings at Atascadero
Junior High School built in 1947.
• At County Office of Education locations, remodeling a historically
significant building behind General Hospital in San Luis Obispo into a
community and vocational school; adding a building in Paso Robles to educate
students who now meet in the Food Bank building; and providing classroom
space at the County Schools Office campus for 60 students now taught elsewhere.
Who Supports Proposition 55?
A Partial List of California
Groups Endorsing Proposition 55
(As Of January 9, 2004)
Business
California Taxpayers Association
California Business Roundtable
California Business Alliance
California Business Properties Association
California Building Industry Association
State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
California Association for Local Economic Development
American Concrete Pavement Association, Western States Chapter
American Fence Contractors Association, California Chapter
American Institute of Architects, California Council
Education
California State PTA
Californians for Higher Education
The Regents of the University of California
California State University Board of Trustees
The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges
California School Boards Association
Political
& Non-Profit Groups
The League of Women Voters of California
The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF)
California State Conference of the NAACP
California Legislative Council for Older Americans
Local
The Cal Poly Alumni Association
The Cal Poly Academic Senate
The Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees
State Senator Bruce McPherson
For the Complete List, Visit www.Yeson55.com
Fact Sheet
Prepared by:
Cal Poly Public Affairs, Cuesta College Public Affairs, Hancock College
Public Affairs, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education