Within the longest election guide ever mailed to California voters is information on a $10.4 billion bond measure that the UC system is banking on for construction projects, including three at UC Davis.

The bond measure is Proposition 1D on the Nov. 7 ballot. If approved by voters, UC Davis' share of the money would amount to $30.1 million to be used for three projects:

• King Hall (School of Law) — Expansion (18,800 square feet) and renovation (14,300 square feet), to expand and consolidate teaching and research space, office and student-faculty support space, and the law library.
• Veterinary Medicine 3B — A new building, comprising 99,000 square feet, to replace obsolete and inadequate space in Haring Hall.
• Electrical improvements — Phase 4 of a program to meet projected electrical demand, including appropriate system redundancy to ensure reliable service.

Supporters, including the UC Board of Regents, the Cal Aggie Alumni Association and the UC Davis Foundation, say California needs to invest more in its education system. Opponents argue against adding to the state debt.

In endorsing Proposition 1D, the Aggie Alumni Association declared that the measure would allow UC "to modernize, improve and expand its programs consistent with the growing needs of the state." The UC Davis Foundation has contributed $37,103 to the campaign; the money came from nonpublic sources and went to Californians for Higher Education, an organization that is promoting Proposition 1D.

Under Proposition 1D, UC would receive a total of $890 million over two years: $345 million a year for facilities programs, and $200 million to expand the university's medical schools and enhance its telemedicine programs throughout the state.

"Voter support for Proposition 1D is critical to the university's ability to accommodate the growing number of students, improve building safety and modernize obsolete facilities as the university works to fulfill its public mission of education and research in the coming years," Board of Regents Chair Gerald Parsky said in a news release after the board endorsed the measure.

The news release states that the bond measure would fund construction and renovation to address enrollment growth, seismic and life safety needs, and renewal of outdated infrastructure. "The capital funds would also allow UC to continue building out its new campus in Merced, which is central to keeping our promise of educational access to the youth of the San Joaquin Valley and throughout California," UC officials said.

The medical-education portion of the funding would provide facilities and state-of-the-art equipment for increased enrollments in UC's Programs in Medical Education, which are aimed at improving health care for underserved populations and communities in California.

For the past four decades, the state has provided funding for UC facilities and infrastructure needs through such bonds. California voters approved similar measures in 2002 and 2004 (Propositions 47 and 55), from which UC received approximately $345 million annually for four years. The 2004 bond funding included support for projects in the university's 2005-06 capital program, and the proposed bonds would sustain this funding source at a similar level.

Proposition 1D's other money would be allocated as follows: $7.329 billion for kindergarten through 12th-grade schools, $1.507 billion for the California Community Colleges system and $690 million for the California State University system.

The Legislature authorized the ballot measure by an overwhelming margin: 29-8 in the Senate and 58-12 in the Assembly.

More information from the UC Office of the President is available online: www.universityofcalifornia.edu/news/prop1d.