Proposition 1D, part of the “Rebuild California” package on the Nov. 7 ballot, is a vital investment in our children's education, safety and future. This measure stands to directly and positively impact education in San Diego, as well as the entire California public education system.
Proposition 1D asks California voters to approve $10.4 billion in bonds that would help public K-12 schools, colleges and universities accommodate more students, make badly needed seismic and other repairs to aging buildings and upgrade university facilities in engineering and scientific fields that will fuel California's future economic growth.
This measure is especially important for our local public colleges and universities, which are experiencing a boom in their student populations. For instance, UC San Diego alone received more than 43,000 applications for fall admission; that was the second-highest application rate in the UC system. San Diego State University received more than 52,000 applications, a record for SDSU, and California State University San Marcos received more than 13,400 applications. Of these applicants, UC San Diego enrolled 6,000 new students; SDSU enrolled 9,000 new students; and Cal State San Marcos enrolled more than 3,200 students.
Each university has done an excellent job accommodating these students and ensuring they receive the high-quality university experience they deserve. Not only are they providing access to San Diego's students, they're also attracting high-quality students to San Diego who will fuel future economic and community growth.
These students need new and upgraded facilities to maximize their potential, and Proposition 1D would deliver badly needed funds to complete important projects at the region's public colleges and universities. Proposition 1D would provide $94.5 million to UC San Diego and more than $11 million to SDSU to pay for important building upgrades and renovations, classrooms, laboratories and other essential teaching and research facilities. The measure also would provide Cal State San Marcos with $53.6 million for a much-needed Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, and $1.7 million for essential renovations for new teaching labs in support of the university's new nursing program.
The value of investing in our colleges and universities is unquestionable. These universities are powerful economic engines. UC San Diego, for instance, is the county's third-largest employer with over 26,000 employees and a monthly payroll of more than $81 million. The university, which is fifth in the nation in federal R&D expenditures, produces cutting-edge research and innovation that contributes to San Diego's economic health and the nation's economy. UC San Diego faculty and alumni have spun off close to 250 local companies, including over a third of the region's biotech companies. Meanwhile, SDSU's faculty and staff have brought in more than $880 million in externally funded contracts and research grants since 2000. Annual spending related to Cal State San Marcos in the San Diego region ($161 million) generates a total impact of $307 million on the regional economy. This impact sustains more than 5,000 jobs in the region and generates $16 million per year in tax revenue. California State University studies estimate the annual regional economic impact of SDSU at more than $1 billion, and that every dollar invested in CSU campuses such as SDSU and Cal State San Marcos generates more than a fourfold economic return for the citizens of California.
Proposition 1D is equally important for our community college system and K-12 schools. It would provide the funding to construct about 6,500 K-12 classrooms, repair 31,000 classrooms, build additional badly needed science and engineering labs and provide 3,000 vocational education facilities. For community colleges, Proposition 1D would invest in the construction of 3,000 new classrooms and the renovation of existing facilities.
The measure also addresses the top priority of school safety, providing much-needed funding to make schools earthquake safe. Currently, the state architect estimates more than 7,000 school buildings need structural upgrades to be earthquake safe.
The mechanism of this measure also makes sense. Proposition 1D is part of the “Rebuild California” plan that uses the taxes we're already paying to build the roads, housing, school and water systems we need to sustain our economy and our quality of life for the long term. The best way to stimulate economic growth and strength is to ensure that our schools, colleges and universities have the facilities to teach our children and prepare them to be highly trained and skilled members of our work force.
The bottom line is that Proposition 1D is a wise investment in the infrastructure needed to improve educational quality and sustain California's economic growth. These new bonds would allow California to accommodate growing numbers of students, improve building safety and modernize aging facilities so that our public schools, colleges and universities have the means to fulfill their crucial mission of delivering today's education and forging our state's future.
Alpert is a retired state senator from the San Diego area who chaired the California Master Plan for Education.
