Seeing gray: school bond issues and the aging in Florida

Conventional wisdom and previous studies strongly suggest that aging citizens oppose local school bond issues because the issues represent increased taxes without direct benefit to the aging. This article tests this assumption through an aggregate level analysis of voting in all Florida school bond referenda since 1969 (n = 56). Among the independent variables in the regression equations were three associated with the aging: percentage 65+, growth rate of population 65+, and an indicator of the degree of political organization among the aging in the election districts. Results showed that one or more characteristics of the aging population were significantly (statistically) and positively related to the percentage of "yes" votes, particularly for the years 1976-1988 and for summer referenda when more resident retirees are politically active. The study indicates that the presence of an organized, relatively affluent, and educated aging population can lead to increased support for local educational referenda.