West Contra Costa School District putting a half-billion dollar bond before voters in March

By Edward Ring
01/09/2020
One of the most financially mismanaged school districts in California has found a solution to their financial challenges – borrow more money, and let the voters pay more in property taxes. Scheduled to appear on the March 2020 local ballot for voters living within the West Contra Costa Unified School District, Measure R, a “classroom modernization...

TAGS: CalTax, Edward Ring, In the Public Interest, school vouchers, Transparent California, Vergara, West Contra Costa Unified School District

In West Contra Costa County, bureaucrats splurge on taxpayer money

By Marc Joffe
07/24/2017
Despite living in the affluent Bay Area, residents of western Contra Costa County have been plagued by a rash of government fiscal crises. The region’s healthcare district filed for bankruptcy twice and is now no longer providing services despite collecting $5.5 million in annual parcel taxes. West County’s largest city, Richmond, carries a junk bond...

TAGS: West Contra Costa Unified School District

Tracking California’s November 2012 Elections Related to Labor Issues

By Kevin Dayton
11/05/2012
California’s Proposition 32 is the country’s most high-profile election in November 2012 directly related to labor unions and labor policy issues. There are also several California local elections – particularly Measure V to enact a charter in the City of Costa Mesa – that will potentially strengthen or weaken union control of government. Here’s a summary of...

TAGS: Charter Cities, City of Costa Mesa - Measure V, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, Jon Coupal, Measuring the Cost of Project Labor Agreements on School Construction in California, Project Labor Agreements, Prop. 32, Sacramento City Unified School District, San Diego County Taxpayers Association, San Diego Unified School District, Solano Community College District, West Contra Costa Unified School District

Will California Voters Reelect Supporters of Union Project Labor Agreements?

By Kevin Dayton
09/11/2012
Election results for recent ballot measures in the cities of San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, and El Cajon and in the County of San Diego confirm consistent poll results showing that California voters want their local government officials to solicit bids for taxpayer-funded construction contracts under fair and open competition. They don’t want their local governments to require their contractors to sign...

TAGS: Project Labor Agreements, Sacramento City Unified School District, San Diego Unified School District, West Contra Costa Unified School District