EXCERPT:  A ballot initiative for a $9 billion school construction bond has qualified for the Nov. 2016 ballot, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced Monday.      "We're hoping for more builders, subcontractors, and others involved in public education," said David Walrath, a consultant from the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, a school facilities advocacy group. 

     As it has in the past, the upcoming campaign will focus on expanding access to quality schools across the state, said Walrath.
     Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown opposed a $9 billion school bond under the argument that the law would add unnecessary debt. Brown has said he wishes to overhaul the school facility funding process into a system where the state would pay to construct and modernize schools in areas that could not raise funding through a local ballot initiative.
     Under the current school funding system, local entities must pledge 50 percent toward the cost of constructing a new school.
     The November initiative would include $3 billion for new construction, $3 billion for modernization, $1 billion for charter school construction and $2 billion for community colleges. It would ultimately cost the state $17.6 billion over 35 years including interest, the Secretary of State said. ... 

     Guynn expressed his point of view concerning the $348 million bond measure during a recent meeting of the Solano College governing board.

     The pay-to-play term generally refers to a situation in which money is exchanged for the privilege of being able to engage in certain activities or provide certain services. Guynn says the practice is legal in most jurisdictions, but has come under public scrutiny.

     There is nothing in the Political Reform Act concerning the practice, according to state Fair Political Practices Commission spokesman Jay Wierenga.

     In the case of Measure Q at Solano College, Guynn questioned the firms of Piper Jaffray and RBC Capital Markets LLC contributing to the bond campaign for the November 2012 election and then after the measure passed, serving as the bond underwriters.

  http://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/fairfield/critic-questions-actions-of-measure-q-bond-underwriters/