This paper constitutes the first of a three part series examining the boom in the construction and renovation of K-12 schools and the continuing challenges that communities face in getting the facilities their students and educators need. Part 1 reports on the increase of school construction and renovation that began in 2002, despite a sagging…

An executive of Moody's Investors Service explains what past experience has taught the company about municipal analysis, how a bond issue is assigned a credit rating, and what issuers can do to obtain the best rating. (MLF)

The literature concerning correlates of outcomes of school bond issues is reviewed, focusing on (1) campaign strategies and voter participation; (2) demographic variables; (3) district economic and fiscal dimensions; and, (4) attitudes toward education. A new integrative framework for future research is presented to assist in assessing the nature…

TO DETERMINE CAUSAL FACTORS IN THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF SCHOOL BOND ELECTIONS, A STUDY WAS MADE OF SCHOOL BOND ELECTION RESULTS FROM 1960 THROUGH 1964 IN THE 209 IOWA SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAINTAINING A PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, OR COMMUNITY COLLEGE. SEVENTY-NINE PERCENT OF THE REPORTING DISTRICTS (154 OF 195 TOTAL) SUCCESSFULLY PASSED…

THE SUPERINTENDENTS OF 195 OF 209 SCHOOL DISTRICTS HOLDING BOND ISSUE ELECTIONS DURING A 5-YEAR PERIOD RESPONDED TO A QUESTIONNAIRE. OF THESE, 20 OF THE 24 WHOSE BOND ISSUES INVOLVED VOCATIONAL EDUCATION WERE INTERVIEWED IN A TWO-PHASE STUDY TO ANALYZE THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, IDENTIFY THE VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH SUCCESS OR FAILURE, AND TO…

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH PROJECT WAS TO DETERMINE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VARIABLES OF DEMOGRAPHY, ECONOMY, ELECTION HISTORY, AND COMMUNICATION, IN ADDITION TO THE PERCENTAGE OF AFFIRMATIVE VOTES IN SCHOOL BOND ELECTIONS. DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM 195 IOWA SCHOOL DISTRICTS INVOLVED IN SCHOOL BOND ELECTIONS OVER A FIVE YEAR PERIOD AND…

The history of state government debt in North Dakota can be divided into three 30-year periods which should be interpreted in terms of the political, social, and economic conditions of each period. The early statehood period of 1889-1918 began with the use of debt to construct facilities necessary to carry out the normal functions of state…

This special issue addresses many of the more salient aspects of municipal finance. Colin Blaydon and Steven Gilford survey a number of social and economic issues that lie at the heart of any attempt to deal meaningfully with the current urban crisis. Donna Shalala and Carol Bellamy focus on the state's attempts to meet the financial emergency…