Despite the grim economic climate, six school districts in the region are asking voters to authorize $1.15 billion in school bonds Nov. 4 – and two other districts have special tax measures on the ballot.

With gas and food prices up, housing foreclosures and job losses at high levels, you might think school districts and community college boards could not have picked a worse time to put out their tin cups.

But you would be wrong, according to at least one school funding expert.

Ron Bennett, president of School Services of California Inc., said school-bond ballot measures pass if voters perceive that their local district is doing a good job.

"Communities vote in favor of bonds in good times and bad – but they don't vote for bonds if a district is in disarray," he said.

Bennett suggested a couple reasons why a district might have chosen to put a bond measure on the ballot: The state isn't providing enough money to take care of building repairs and construction, and districts want to try to pass a bond to qualify for matching state funds.

"Districts tend not to look at the economy or the willingness of voters as carefully as they look at their own needs and opportunities," he said.

While district officials referred to the lack of state money to help them modernize and computerize their classrooms, some said they needed the additional taxpayer help just to keep academic programs and cherished schools open.

The Center Unified School District in northern Sacramento County and southern Placer County is going to the voters with a $500 million bond authorization now in hopes it will be prepared when developments start going up again.

Matt Friedman, president of 5,400-student Center Unified governing board, said the district expects another 25,000 homes to be built in the next two or three decades.

"We are looking to have funds available to build facilities well into the next 30 years," he said.

Friedman said the board discussed the downturn in the economy but went ahead with the ballot measure.

"We won't sell a single dollar of a single bond until there is a need for school construction for new students," he said. "We are aiming to keep our tax rate as it is now – $60 for $100,000 of assessed evaluation."

Meanwhile, Los Rios Community College District officials said they have an urgent need to build and remodel campus buildings because enrollment is skyrocketing – driven in part by laid-off workers seeking retraining.

The district, already at capacity, estimates its student population will grow from 90,000 to 120,000 in eight years, and new classrooms are needed at every college in the district.

Chancellor Brice Harris said the district wouldn't be doing its job if the $475 million bond measure wasn't on the November ballot.

In Placer County, Republican leaders opposed bond and parcel tax measures regardless of the district, drawing fire from measure supporters that the critics don't live in their districts and shouldn't presume to speak for the people who do.

For instance, one of the smallest bond requests on the ballot – $2.5 million for the Colfax Elementary School District – drew the ire of the county Republican Party and local taxpayer groups.

Noting that Colfax faces major increases in sewer rates for a new treatment plant, they argued on the ballot statement that "now is certainly not the right time to raise taxes."

"Our economy is in a major downturn right now. Many people have lost their jobs, and some are teetering on the edge of losing their homes," they wrote.

But Colfax officials counter that the state "has been unable to provide the district with enough money" to maintain, repair and upgrade its schools, and that the district is at risk of losing $3 million in state matching funds to other school districts, including Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Board of Education, for example, voted to place a $7 billion bond on the ballot, called the largest local school bond ever.

Not all school officials were sure they should ask voters for money. Earlier this year, San Juan Unified School District officials decided not to pursue a bond measure, citing the rough economic conditions.

In Davis – a city where residents have a history of funding its vaunted schools – the Davis Joint Unified School District put Measure Won the ballot. It is a three-year annual $120 parcel tax for property owners that would preserve existing classroom programs, including math and science, English, music and librarians.

"It's not the best time because of the economy to go to the voters," said Janet Berry, co-chair of the Measure W campaign.

However, the parcel tax is necessary to avoid a crisis in education next school year, she said.

"We are trying to avoid the pink-slipping of teachers and programs being cut," she said.

Call The Bee's Bill Lindelof, (916) 321-1079.