Copyright© 1999 by School Services of California, Inc.
Community College District General Obligation Bond
Elections
Four California Community College Districts placed General Obligation (G.O.) Bond measures on their local ballots for the November 2, 1999 elections, and unfortunately only one passed. Community colleges have a history of not doing very well in getting local voters to support G.O. bond elections. Going back more than 20 years, only eight out of 13 bond measures have passed.
The major problem for both community colleges and the K-12 system is the two-thirds vote requirement. The two-thirds vote requirement results in both community college and K-12 districts being able to consistently pass barely half of their attempts. This past election, voters up and down the state approved 15 of 25 K-12 G.O. bonds, authorizing $456 million in local funds for new construction and modernization.
Of particular note, the two K-12 school bonds attempted in Orange County both passed, bringing to four the number of bonds that have been approved in that conservative county in recent years. This is a marked change in the voting pattern of the Orange County electorate.
The following community college G.O. bond measures were on the November 2 ballots:
Foothill-DeAnza CCD (passed)
Approved by 72% of the voters in the amount of $248 million for the purpose of replacing aging roofs plumbing and electrical systems; refurbishing science labs and restrooms; and, constructing science, and high-tech computer labs, classrooms, and other facilities.
Mt. San Antonio CCD (failed)
Came close with 63.2% of the voters in support. The requested amount was $98 million for the purpose of upgrading electrical systems; providing access to technology; enlarging, and improving student support space; renovating classrooms, science and computer labs and providing additional instructional space; replacing plumbing and sewer systems; retrofitting for seismic safety; and, replacing heating and ventilation systems.
San Mateo CCD (failed)
Narrowly failed passage, achieving 65.2% voter support. The requested amount was $125 million for the purpose of upgrading computer and science labs; repair leaking roofs; removing asbestos; seismic upgrades and retrofit classrooms; improving disabled access; improving safety on campuses; and, making other facility improvements.
Santa Barbara CCD (failed)
Only 54.2% of the voters supported the bond measure. The requested amount was $44.8 million for the purpose of constructing computer, multimedia, and technology classrooms; reducing overcrowding; upgrading science labs; repairing plumbing, heating, and electrical systems; and, making other facility improvements.
Hopefully, voters will approve Proposition 26 at the March 2000 primary election
which lowers the threshold to a simple majority for school construction bonds.
Only then can we expect to see a significant increase in the number of local
G.O. bond elections approved for community colleges (see following article
for more on Proposition 26).
-- Arnold Bray