Three key state bond issues on the November ballot could provide more resources to higher education institutions in California, New Mexico and Rhode Island if voters approve.

Meanwhile, Utah voters will also weigh in on a ballot question that would increase funding for colleges without the state taking on more debt.

Where and how the funding would be applied varies from state to state, ranging from improving the basic functionality of community college buildings to increasing innovation and technology investment in flagship products. But all four ballot measures appear to have more support than opposition just over a week from Election Day.

In all, there are nearly 160 statewide ballot measures in 41 states, according to Ballotpedia. Only a handful of these relate to higher education. Here is a brief overview of the measures we are following.

Keeping the lights on in California

As heating and cooling systems fail, ceilings collapse and plumbing systems teeter on the brink of bursting, CalMatters rEPORTS that California’s community colleges are in disrepair and it’s up to voters to decide whether these aging facilities are worth fixing.

If passed, the ballot measure, Proposition 2will allow the state to borrow $10 billion to build new or repair distressed buildings that serve students in the state’s K-12, post-secondary and associate degree programs. Although most of the funding would go to K-12 projects, 15 percent, or $1.5 billion, would help community colleges. A no vote, on the other hand, would prevent California from adding to its existing $80 billion in bond debt.

So far, most likely voters (54 percent) support measure, according to a recent survey from the Public Policy Institute of California. But passage is not guaranteed. When lawmakers put $15 billion similar proposal on the 2020 ballot, Californians rejected it.

Supporters include the California Association of Teachers, California Community College League and Assembly Member Al Muratsuchia Democrat who co-authored the bill that put Proposition 2 on the November ballot. Muratsuchi told Capital Public Radio that nearly half of the state’s public education institutions are over 60 years old and that previous estimates show public schools have more than $100 billion in unmet operational needs.

But opponents such as Rep. Bill Essayli, a Republican, and Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, argued that increasing the state debt is not the right approach. “The responsibility for funding these facilities should rest with local entities,” Coupal told CPR, explaining that districts should use their own local education bonds.

New Mexico Facility Update

New Mexico higher education bond package sub Question 3 is significantly less than California’s at $230 million, but is the largest of the four bonds on the ballot in the desert southwestern state, The Albuquerque Journal rEPORTS. If voters vote yes, the bond would allow for capital improvements at institutions of higher education, including tribal colleges and universities. The most would benefit from the land grant and the flagship institutions of the state.

For example, New Mexico State University in Las Cruces would receive $50.5 million for its main campus, branch campuses and agricultural science and experiment stations, according to the study. diary. The University of New Mexico will receive $94.5 million to build a new humanities and social sciences facility on its Albuquerque campus, as well as remodel and expand the College of Pharmacy. New Mexicans have historically approved bonds, though they voted against a $150 million bond package in 2010 — the last time such a measure failed, diary reported.

Supporting Biomed in Rhode Island

In Rhode Island, a $160.5 million measure could help advance the state’s prospects as a leader in biomedical sciences and cybersecurity. Supporters said The Boston Globe that those areas represent good-paying jobs, economic prosperity and better health outcomes for the state.

More than 5,770 Rhode Islanders currently work in the biotech industry, with 666 biotech companies currently located in the state, according to the University of Rhode Island. Cybersecurity skills and experience are also in demand, with 2,700 current jobs in Rhode Island alone and over half a million unfilled positions across the United States.

Trustees from the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College, which would benefit from the bond measure, along with a variety of local elected officials, are urging state residents to vote yes on Question 2. The University of Rhode Island would receive $87.5 million for to build a biomedical sciences building to improve its research infrastructure. Passing Question 2 would also send $73 million to Rhode Island College, which plans to renovate a 66-year-old building to house the college’s Cyber ​​Security and Emerging Technologies Institute.

Withdrawal from permanent funds

In Utah, voters don’t have to approve a bond measure, but state officials want more flexibility in how much they can spend on education.

If passed, the legislative amendment, known as Amendment Bwould raise the cap on annual distributions from the State School Fund, a permanently set-aside funding pot, from 4 percent to 5 percent — increasing appropriations for Utah’s public schools, colleges and universities at no cost to taxpayers. If the amendment passes, the state could distribute another $14 million from the $3.3 billion fund. Public institutions received about $106 million last academic year.

Overall, the proposal received broad support. Officials say the fund has grown significantly over the years with income from land trusts and investments, and it’s time for payouts to increase as well. “Due to strong investment returns, the fund has to pay out more of its earnings today,” Utah Treasurer Marlo Oaks told KSL TV 5. “Amendment B will give the Office of Trust Funds for Schools and Institutions the flexibility to fulfill its fiduciary duty to balance funding between current and prospective students.”

Notable non-funding measures

Outside of state-level funding issues, higher education policy experts pay the most attention to them a ballot measure in Nevada which, if enacted, would allow for an overhaul of higher education governance in the Silver State.

Known as Question 1the referendum would remove from the state Constitution the reference to the current system, which includes an elected board of higher education. It comes as a result of long-standing tensions between the Legislature and the chancellor of the Nevada system of higher education and its regents. Lawmakers say the existing structure gives too much power and not enough accountability to the 13-member group — allowing the regents to see themselves on equal footing with the state Legislature and immune from oversight. But current regents and other opponents argue that allowing the Legislature to appoint board members could further politicize higher education and hurt academic freedom.

Others outside of Nevada include:

• New Mexico Constitutional Amendment 3which would allow the dean of the University of New Mexico Law School to designate an individual to serve as chair for the appellate nominating committee when necessary.
• Question 2 in Massachusettswhich would eliminate the requirement that students achieve a certain level of proficiency on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System exam to graduate from high school. However, they should meet all local or district graduation requirements.