Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Town, activists size up state's ballot measures

By Katherine Petersen

Of the 12 state propositions on the March 26 ballot, some directly affect the town of Los Gatos, and others indirectly affect the town because they could have an impact on the state's economy.

Proposition 193

Passage of Proposition 193 would allow grandparents to transfer property to their grandchildren if the grandchildren's parents are dead.

Those who support the proposition say it would allow grandparents to transfer a primary residence worth up to $1 million without an increase to its assessed value according to Proposition 13, a situation that would occur rarely. The small amount of lost property taxes that could affect schools would be repaid from the general fund. Some school officials worry that this reimbursement wouldn't happen.

Proposition 197

Passage of Proposition 197 would repeal the mountain lion's status as a specially protected mammal. The measure would require the Fish and Game Commission to manage mountain lions as it manages other animals that are not rare, endangered or threatened. The measure authorizes killing mountain lions in priority zones consistent with the commission's management plan.

Up to $250,000 would be reallocated to the Habitat Conservation Fund annually for three years, and up to $100,000 annually thereafter until July 1, 2020. Additional state costs of up to $250,000 annually could be incurred to maintain public safety.

Robert Dugan of Californians for Balanced Wildlife Management said there has been an increase in incidents of mountain lions threatening public safety and private property, such as domestic animals, in recent years.

"Under current law, the mountain lion population can't be managed," Dugan added. "Any plan that is developed requires maintenance of a viable mountain lion population."

Dugan conceded that hunting is one of the many management tools available.

Paul Van Dyke of No on 197, California Wildlife Protection Coalition, said Los Gatos voters should not allow the trophy hunting of mountain lions in the nearby hills, as it would disrupt the natural ecosystem.

Proposition 198

Passage of Proposition 198 would allow voters who are registered as independents or in minority parties to participate in primary elections.

Lynda Rice, campaign manager for Californians for an Open Primary, said such a primary would allow people to vote based on candidates rather than party affiliation. She said that giving the state's 1.5 million registered independents a vote in primaries would increase turnout at these elections.

Opening primaries to independents would encourage more moderate candidates to run and would give all voters more choices, Rice said.

But Bob Mulholland, campaign adviser for the California Democratic Party, said that just as the Elks Club doesn't allow the Lions Club to vote in its board elections, so independents should not vote for Democrats or Republicans in primary elections. Mulholland said voter turnout during the past 16 primaries, when the current system began, has been 3 percent higher than the 16 primaries before its adoption.

Proposition 199

Proposition 199 would phase out local rent-control laws on mobilehomes and prevent new state and local laws.

Denis Wolcott, spokesman for Californians for Mobilehome Fairness, said rent control limits park owners' ability to pay back bank loans, which in turn curbs new park construction. He added that many people, such as young families, look to mobilehome communities for an affordable first home.

But Ron Gray, a campaign consultant for the Golden State Mobilehome Owners League Inc., said Proposition 199 should be called "the widows' and seniors' eviction act." Revoking rent control laws will make mobilehomes unaffordable because rents could skyrocket, Gray said.

The Town Council has passed a resolution opposing this proposition.

"I would be disappointed if this proposition passed," Mayor Randy Attaway said. "I'm a believer in free enterprise, but I also believe there is a real necessity to have some form of rent control for mobilehome parks."

Proposition 203

Proposition 203 would provide $3 billion for construction, restoration and earthquake retrofitting for K-12 schools, community colleges, and campuses of the California State University and University of California. The bond would provide $2.02 billion for K-12 capital projects and $975 million for higher education projects. About $300 million would be available over the next two years for community college projects if the bond passes.

More than $800 million is needed for school construction projects that have been approved but await funding. Overall, there is a $7.2 billion backlog of project applications.

Jim Murdoch of the Coalition for Adequate School Housing, who favors this measure, called education a statewide responsibility. Los Gatos schools could use the money from this bond as matching funds for a local bond issue, which would reduce the cost of construction to local taxpayers and make local dollars go further.

According to the state constitution, money from the state lottery can not be used for school construction, and bond funding can only be used for construction and modernization. State taxes will not be increased because of this bond since the money has already been budgeted into the general fund for this purpose.

Jim Elwood of the Libertarian Party of California, which opposes the measure, said the bond measure is deceptive because only $100 million out of $3 billion will be spent on earthquake retrofitting. He added that California's public schools already receive 40 percent of the state's general fund, and that proceeds from the state lottery, after expenses, go toward public education.

The Los Gatos Union School District has no state-level projects under way and is not planning major construction. It is also not near the state definition of "overcrowded." According to district business manager Mike Brandy, however, some schools with older facilities might apply to be on the waiting list for modernization funding within a few years. New counters, floors and roofs, better lighting and more efficient electrical wiring would all qualify as modernization efforts.

The Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District will not be receiving any monies, and the district is far down on the waiting list for state funding. Superintendent Tod Likins said that the district is running out of science-classroom space and could put extra money to good use in converting or creating better science facilities.

The Loma Prieta Joint Union School District is not crowded enough to qualify for state funding and is not projected to grow much in the next few years. Thanks to rebuilding efforts in the years following the 1989 earthquake, Loma Prieta Elementary School is too new to require modernizing. Additionally, said Superintendent Lee Tinder, the district has done a good job of refurbishing and modernizing C.T. English Middle School, thanks to developers' fees and parcel tax revenues.

Lakeside School, in its own district, is not quite old enough to qualify for a chance at state funds, although Superintendent Martin St. John said the school could stand to be updated in several areas: removable walls surrounding the multi-use room need repair or replacement, and better electrical wiring for computers would be helpful, as would improvements to the water system.

Anne Gelhaus and Shari Kaplan contributed to this report.