Ballot measure impacts campus

Proposition 1-D would provide $14 million in funds to Fresno State

By Jeff Christian
The Collegian

Fresno State facilities could be headed for a two-year makeover that would provide funding to alleviate overcrowding, as well as funding for repairs and renovations.

Proposition 1-D is a $10.4 billion ballot measure that would provide funding to both lower education and higher education systems throughout

California. Lower education systems (K-12) would receive over $7 billion and the remaining $3 billion
would be split between the California Community Colleges, UC and the CSU campuses.

The measure would provide Fresno State with $14 million in funds, over a two-year period that would help to enhance the nursing program, provide furnishings for the newly renovated Henry Madden Library and also provide architectural upgrades and repairs to existing facilities.

According to Robert Boyd, Associate Vice President of Facilities Management, Proposition 1-D would provide nearly $6 million in upgrades for buildings such as Conley Art, Agricultural Science II and the older south wing of the Henry Madden Library.

Architectural changes would include upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
In addition, a portion of the funds, about $750,000, would be spent to make architectural improvements to meet yearly standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Each year we work with the Presidents Council and we prioritize our needs, but there will always be modernizations and renovations to be made,” Boyd said.

Boyd also said that if passed, Proposition 1-D would provide about $6.5 million to help furnish the renovated Henry Madden Library. Furnishings would include seats, chairs and other non-attached equipment.

“We were not able to do all the things that we wanted to do with the money we received from the previous proposition, which provided most of the demolition and renovation. There was still some additional equipment and furniture that was not included in that bond that will help to make it one of the most modern libraries in the country,” Dean of Student Affairs Paul Oliaro said.

Oliaro believes that for Fresno State, Proposition 1-D would be an attempt to respond to the growing demand for nurses. Its passage would provide the university with $1.2 million for classroom and lab renovations and would help expand the number of nursing students accepted on campus.

According to Boyd, the nursing renovations would focus primarily on the expansion and modernization of current classroom space and labs.

A recent Los Angeles Times field poll shows that the future of the proposition is still uncertain. The poll, which was conducted on Sept. 30, showed support for the ballot measure at 43 percent, opposition at 39 percent, while still 18 percent of likely voters remain undecided.

Supporting groups of Proposition 1-D have spent nearly $7 million in contributions since the beginning of the year.

Although there isn’t an organized opposition, there are many skeptics of the ballot measure.

Opponents believe that it is merely another irresponsible short-term bond solution that would force taxpayers to payoff the interest for years to come.

According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, Proposition 1-D would cost the state about $20.3 billion, or about $680 million a year for 30 years, to pay off the loan and interest.

Although there are some positive aspects in the measure that would provide funding for Fresno State, university officials aren’t permitted to campaign or stump for Proposition 1-D.

“All we can do is encourage people to look at the issues, examine the pros and cons and vote,” Oliaro said.

Fresno State students will have a chance to voice their opinion on the issue by registering to vote and showing up at the polls on Election Day.

Comment on this story in the News forum >>