Bid to Fight School Bond Measure Ended

An anti-tax group that opposed the successful November initiative making it easier for local school districts to win construction bond approval has decided not to try to overturn the measure next year.

Proposition 39 lowered the vote needed for local school district bonds from two-thirds to 55%.

The major opponent, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., had filed a proposed initiative last month, aimed for the March 2002 ballot, to restore the two-thirds vote.

However, Jon Coupal, president of the group, said Tuesday that the organization has decided to drop its proposal because it would be costly and time-consuming “without a good expectation of success.”

“Additionally, we believe that the public is not yet fully aware of the damage inflicted by the passage of Proposition 39,” Coupal said.

He said the group might try again after some school districts put bonds before voters using the 55% requirement.

Proposition 39 was supported by a coalition that included Gov. Gray Davis, former Gov. Pete Wilson, school organizations and a group of Silicon Valley millionaires, who provided much of the $47.6 million raised for that and a similar but unsuccessful initiative in the March primary.