In 2008, Los Angeles County voters overwhelmingly approved a $7 billion dollar bond sale in order to repair/upgrade aging/deteriorating classrooms, restrooms; upgrade fire/earthquake safety; reduce asbestos, lead paint, aid pollution water quality hazards; and build/upgrade specialized classrooms that students need to meet job and college requirements.
That was in 2008. Now, in the midst of one of the most troubling economic times, the Los Angeles school district has seen federal and state resources dry up, student enrollment dip and the strain of unfunded mandates reach a breaking point. Despite $1.5 billion in cuts over the past three years, the deficit for the upcoming year is over $400 million. The school district, legally mandated to pass a balanced budget, has no other choice but to notify teachers and librarians and nurses that they may lose their job because the money is simply not available.
Right about now a light bulb has probably illuminated over your head. You’re probably thinking. “Surely, the schools can tap into that $7 billion of voter-approved bond funds to reduce a deficit of $400 million.”
You’ll have to pardon me while I hit the dimmer switch.
The $7 billion dollar bond measure that was approved by the voters in 2008 with 69.11% of the vote had very clear language that said the money shall be used for upgrading and repairing schools. That’s it.
Unfortunately, there was no clause that in case of emergency, “break glass” and siphon funds as needed. While that would be an amazingly handy tool to have at this difficult point it is not a legal remedy. That is to say, it is against the law and prohibited to do such a thing. As it should be to prevent misuse of voter approved monies.
When uninformed individuals point to $250 million dollar schools being built during a budget crisis as supposed evidence of fiscal malfeasance by the district, they fail to grasp the concept that the district cannot tap into that $7 billion dollar pot of money unless it is for what the voters explicitly approved: upgrading and repairing schools. This is a reasonable approach, I thought.
Let the Los Angeles school district case be an example for all of America. Our governments (federal, state and municipal) operate on these “pots of money” and there exist near endless rules and regulations governing the usage and tapping into of funds; all to protect taxpayers. Where ever you live if you want to begin to understand how government budgeting works then you must understand the idea of “pots of money” and you must also respect the obligation to follow the law.