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Measure M Quick FactsTo proceed directly to the Frequently Asked Questions section click here.
Election Facts
Prop 39 requirements:
What is it for? Measure M is needed to maintain and improve the high standard of education at College of the Canyons by:
For additional information please see the proposed list of projects. College Facts
1. What is Measure M? Measure M is a general obligation bond measure in the amount of $160 million that will appear on the November 7, 2006 ballot. It will be used by College of the Canyons to build more classrooms and labs, update outdated classrooms and infrastructure, and to construct new buildings on the main campus and at the Canyon Country Educational Center site.
The estimated tax rate will be $9.73 per $100,000 of assessed value. It is important to note that assessed value is assigned by a tax assessor and should not be confused with market value, which is the amount a homeowner could expect to receive if he or she were to put a property up for sale. Measure M will cost the average homeowner less than $30 per year.
The general election for 2006 will be held on Tuesday, November 7.
The college is out of space. Even the opening of the buildings currently under construction on campus won’t provide enough to space to meet the needs of the student population that will be turning to the college in the near future. Enrollment for fall 2006 is already up 6.5 percent in headcount and more than 11 percent in FTES (over fall 2005), after only the first week of classes. We have classes meeting in every nook and cranny of the college, many in spaces that are truly inadequate. Four times more students attend community college than UC and CSU schools combined for affordability reasons. UC tuition is $5,406 per academic year and CSU tuition per academic year is $2,520, while COC costs $780 per academic year for a fulltime student and is dropping from $26 per unit to $20 per unit, effective January 1, 2007. The state no longer provides funds for stand-alone remodel or secondary effects projects. When the buildings under construction are opened, and departments move into them, we need to have funds to remodel the old spaces for new purposes or expanded access for departments remaining in existing facilities. Funds are needed to improve and modernize our infrastructure. Much of it is old and outdated. Equipment and technology change quickly and the state does not fund upgrades on a regular or predictable basis. We’ve paid attention to the annual planning documents the faculty in academic departments have produced. To meet the needs departments have now and those projected for the future, we must get the funds to start creating those spaces now. The breadth of offerings is limited in many departments because of limited space. In 1996 COC served 6,900 students; today, even with the additions and improvements of recent years, the campus struggles to provide enough classroom space for over 18,000 students. The college simply needs more classrooms and labs to serve the growing student body. 3,100 adults applied to the college in fall 2005, but couldn’t enroll. Over 2,200 more students are on the wait list for required classes each semester. COC would have needed to add more than 300 class sections to serve these students in 2005-06, but there was no classroom space to do so. Many class sections, both night and daytime courses, are closed due to a lack of classroom space, which reduces class offerings for students. Many working adults are crowded out of night classes due to more and more traditional college-age students who cannot find room to enroll in overcrowded daytime courses. Overall, 92 percent of students are enrolled in courses to attend 4-year universities or obtain valuable professional skills — without more classrooms, many of these students will continue to be wait-listed for required courses and the time it takes them to complete college will be extended. COC needs more labs and improved technology to expand a variety of high-demand, well-paid, professional programs requiring technical expertise, such as nursing, medical lab assistant, firefighting, paramedic, television and film, auto mechanic and science-related careers, as well as the needed technology for English, math, foreign language and transfer courses. Basic repairs are required to plumbing, ductwork, roofs, walls and floors that have aged. Many college buildings, classrooms and grounds must be improved to meet current earthquake, health, fire safety, security and disability access standards. The State under-funds basic maintenance and upkeep for wear and tear on classrooms and labs – which is a growing need, especially considering COC is over capacity. And when state maintenance funding is available, it requires a local match.
Right away! We are filling classrooms as soon as they are created. Demand for our educational and training programs has grown beyond our physical capacity to accommodate. The college, despite the completion of new buildings in the last 5 years, still is in the position of holding classes in places such as the staff dining room, art gallery, off campus business sites and other spaces not originally intended for classroom instruction, or intended for other purposes. For example, students are taking political science classes in a chemistry lab because it is the only space available at the time needed. The main campus was originally intended to accommodate 5,000 students, and construction of classrooms over the years notwithstanding, the college’s current population of nearly 19,000, puts great pressure on our facilities. With enrollment fees dropping on January 1 to $20 per unit, enrollment will continue to climb.
The first part of a 2-year statewide bond is scheduled for November 2006. COC could benefit with as much as $35 to $40 million from Proposition 1D to fund the library expansion, the University Center, the Media Arts Building expansion and renovation, the University Center, and the first 40,000-square-foot instructional building (science, math, computer class rooms and labs) at the Canyon Country Campus. However, the ONLY way COC can get money from the state bond will be by having local money to match it.
College of the Canyons expects to receive $35.7 million in construction from the state between now and 2009. To receive that funding, the college is required to provide $19.2 million in local funding. If Measure M fails, the only other alternative to meeting the local obligation is financing through Certificates of Participation (COPs). The annual debt service on COPs would be approximately $2 million per year, which would be paid for from the college’s general fund. Historically, increases in our budget due to growth, COLA, and equalization have been used to hire new faculty and staff, offer more classes, fund new program development, salaries, benefits, equipment and supplies.
In general, the bonds will be paid off in 25 to 30 years.
The following departments identified space needs in their 2004-05 annual plans, and these needs have been used to create the list of projects to be funded by Measure M. This list is not exhaustive. The language of the measure allows us to fund creating classrooms, labs and remodeled spaces as needed, so additional departments that identify needs may be funded from this measure. Administration of Justice New equipment and technology will benefit all academic and student services departments.
The short answer: Measure M is needed to maintain and improve the high standard of education at College of the Canyons by: Adding classrooms for core classes through secondary effects projects, remodels, accessibility projects and by building additions. Adding labs and improving technology to expand public safety and other skilled, high-demand professions Improving earthquake, security and fire safety Improving disabled access Repairing plumbing, duct-work, roofs, walls and floors Helping secure millions of dollars in state matching funds that will otherwise be lost Example: When the High Technology Building is opened, many of the departments in the current Media and Fine Arts Building will move into the new building. The state will not fund the secondary effects projects that would make those vacated spaces ready for other departments. Measure M will provide the funds. The longer answer: The College and the Board of Trustees and administration, with input originally from faculty departments’ annual plans, have developed long-range master plans for the college. From these plans the project list for Measure M has been formulated. The project list is: Repair, Upgrade, Maintain, Equip, and/or Replace Obsolete Classrooms, Nursing and Health Care Training Facilities, Science and Computer Labs, Library, Instructional and Job Training Facilities, Public Safety Training Facilities, Sites and Utilities; Meet Demands of Changing Workforce: Upgrade buildings to include educational equipment and laboratories; Provide updated computer technology capability for students; Repair, build, reconfigure, upgrade and/or replace leaky roofs, decaying walls, old ceiling tiles and flooring, peeling paint, aging plumbing, sewer and drainage systems, inefficient electrical systems and wiring, deteriorated restrooms, heating, ventilation and cooling systems, classrooms, lecture halls, warehouse storage systems, playing fields, physical education facilities, grounds, science and other instructional laboratories and healthcare workforce facilities, technology center, library and student support facilities, administrative facilities, campus landscaping, fire fighting, public safety and other instructional facilities; Wire classrooms for computers and other technology, increase energy efficiency, acquire furniture and equipment, increase safety, reduce fire hazards with alarms, smoke detectors, fire safety doors and sprinklers; renovate space to consolidate operations, reduce operating costs in order for more classes and job training to be offered, improve academic instruction; Meet legal requirements for disabled access. Expand Classroom and Facility Capacity, Construct Classrooms and Buildings, Improve Science Center, Learning Resource Center/Library, Upgrade Classrooms/Labs For Nursing and Emergency Medical Technicians, Public Safety and Vocational Training: Increase permanent classroom and facility capacity for academic and job training classes, including an allied health/nursing building for training nurses, paramedic technicians, lab and pharmacy technicians, math, computer technology, other health care programs; Upgrade or replace science labs, expand classroom facilities for vocational training in hotel and restaurant management, automotive technology, construction management, and advanced technologies, and applied arts and sciences facilities, and upgrade campus technology. Construct a new Public Safety Facility for fire fighting and law enforcement training. Expand student services areas and the Learning Resource Center/Library and build out the University Center to allow more students to obtain a 4-year college degree locally. Improve Safety and Disabled Access: Upgrade and repair facilities for earthquake safety as well as existing fire alarms, sprinklers, smoke detectors, install security systems, exterior lighting, emergency lighting, emergency communication systems, concrete sidewalks, signage, improve accessibility for the disabled, repair stairs, walks and ramps, resurface parking lots. Provide Classrooms at Canyon Country: Construct and equip classrooms, administrative facilities and areas for student services for vocational and general education programs; Install site infrastructure to accommodate campus growth; Provide technology facilities, Internet access and wireless and cable technology to improve technology-enhanced learning opportunities. Upgrade Technology: Replace outdated technology facilities, upgrade Internet access and wireless and cable technology, build technology-enhanced classrooms, upgrade telecommunications systems, upgrade campus-wide technology, replace outdated computers, hardware and software, replace network infrastructure equipment, and install wiring upgrades, campus wide underground fiber optics installation. Repair, Replace and Upgrade Electrical and Mechanical Systems to Reduce Energy Consumption and Utility Bills and Accommodate Computer Technology, Internet Access and Communications Systems: Improve and upgrade electrical and mechanical systems and take advantage of energy saving technologies to reduce energy bills and have more resources for student learning. Improve Access: Improve campus road network and walkways, upgrade and expand parking areas, improve pedestrian safety and increase access for emergency vehicles.
Yes. A component (50 percent) of the growth funds we have received to operate the past 10 years has come from growth in new facilities. This has resulted in $76,000,000 (cumulatively) since 1996. Revenue in the amount of $13.6 million annually is currently being used to fund 50 full-time faculty and 49 full-time classified staff hired since 1996, and more than 4,000 sections over the last 10 years. Doesn’t the state provide funds to build new buildings and repair existing ones? The state does fund new buildings but not in the amounts or on the timelines required to meet the needs at the local college level. They use antiquated formulas based on 1976 statues that do not account for technology, computers, and different learning modalities needed in today’s teaching environment. When state construction funds are available, community colleges must compete for those funds with other California community colleges. The availability of locally generated bond funds provide additional leverage for College of the Canyons to compete successfully for the state funds and to access them faster than other, competing schools. Measure M funds would be used to qualify College of the Canyons for $70 million or more of additional state funds that would be spent in our community. If we don’t have local funds to enable us to qualify for state matching funds, the state money will be awarded to other community college districts.
The college has provided a list of projects that Measure M bond monies could fund, so voters will know what the money will be used for. The money will be used only for projects that are on the list. The list has some general categories to allow flexibility for the specific classroom, labs and projects needed to support the implementation of academic department plans. The citizens’ oversight committee, made up of community members from groups specified by Proposition 39, oversees the use of the funds so that none can be used for salaries. There will also be annual fiscal and performance audits conducted by an independent audit firm.
After the measure passes, the district will set up a process for people to apply to the new committee. If someone wishes to be considered for appointment to the Measure M Oversight Committee, he or she may submit a letter requesting consideration and a copy of their resume to the COC President's Office. The Board of Trustees will consider new members on a yearly basis.
We believe the public will understand and embrace the reality of the situation. We know that in inflationary times, when the cost of going to a 4-year university or proprietary school continues to skyrocket, more people than ever turn to their community colleges for affordable, high-quality education; job training and updating of critical skills to make themselves more competitive in the market place. Going to college locally saves people time as well as saving money. It is important to remember that there is a direct relationship between having enough classrooms and labs and being able to offer key classes at times when students most need them. If College of the Canyons lacks these resources, then there is a direct negative impact on the time it takes students to earn their degrees and certificates, their transfer credits, or their ability to move into the workforce as a productive member of the local workforce. Studies have repeatedly shown that community colleges are critical pipelines to continued higher education as well as a competent workforce in California. It is important to us as educators as well as concerned citizens to keep the doors open, to provide opportunity, and to do our best to meet the future needs of our community.
Everyone in the Santa Clarita Valley, regardless of age, benefits from a healthy local community college. Students at the college range in ages from very young through their 80s. The college offers programs that are particularly of interest to seniors, such as noncredit classes in art, computer, exercise and film classes offered through the community extension program; the Tuesdays with the Professors lecture series provided in Friendly Valley; the foreign film showcase; Performing Arts Center events; and exhibits in the college’s art gallery. By supporting the community college, seniors can be comfortable knowing their children and grandchildren will have access to high-quality, affordable higher education and training, because the rising cost of higher education in other institutions impacts everyone in a family. Most importantly, for all members of the community, the more residents who are educated and the more people who can enter the workforce and share the tax burden, the better off everyone is. A community with a well-educated population has a lower crime rate, has higher property values and has a better quality of life for everyone. And, if you are one of those grandparents who your children and grandchildren will look to for support of the costs of education, you will save money and help your family members acquire a great education locally.
Yes. Proposition 39 requires approval of 55 percent of the district’s voters. In addition, none of the funds may be used for administrator salaries. Prop 39 also requires a citizen’s independent oversight committee to be formed and that frequent, fiscal and performance audits be conducted by an independent audit firm.
No, developers don’t pay any fees to support community colleges. By state law, developers have no obligation to pay fees to colleges. Through our foundation, however, we aggressively pursue support from developers to make donations that support program development and implementation.
By state law, students in California can attend any community college they want. We cannot restrict attendance. Many of the community college districts in California have a proportion of out-of-area students exceeding 50 percent. One of the reasons why we have out-of-district students is because our Sheriff’s Academy and our Fire Academy provide regional training. Once trained, these public service people help protect our community, making it one of the safest in the U.S. In addition, many people who attend College of the Canyons work in Santa Clarita, although they may live outside the valley. They contribute to the economic vitality of our community even though they live elsewhere. Some of our students are taking classes here and also at other community colleges and at universities outside our district. Most of all, students come to College of the Canyons because the education they receive is high quality. We want to keep it that way for all of our students.
Voters approved an $82.1 million bond measure, Measure C, in November, 2001.
As part of the process for informing voters leading up to the 2001 bond vote, College of the Canyons provided a list of facilities that the college needed. This list was developed from college department annual plan needs and the updated 2001 Educational and Facilities Master Plan. The list on the ballot was larger than the monies from Measure C would be able to fund because only projects on the list could be built, yet we didn’t know which ones the state would fund, nor when. Making a larger list allowed the district flexibility to take advantage of opportunities to leverage the money with additional funds from the state, by picking and choosing projects at the time the state would provide matching funds. It also allowed the district to fully fund some projects that were not scheduled to be funded by the state for a long time. The measure achieved a 68 percent approval by local voters. The college then used the funds to: Build the new Music/Dance instructional building (paid for completely by Measure C since the state wouldn’t fund any of it); Build an addition to the Vocational Technical building to accommodate manufacturing technology, engineering, and expansion of the welding program and computer technology; Build a new warehouse; Install a modular classroom for the Sheriff's Department North Academy; Update the Central Plant that serves existing and new buildings; Purchase and grade 70 acres for a second campus in Canyon Country Repair and renovate existing buildings, the stadium, track and install Field Turf in the stadium; Build the college’s High Technology Classroom building; Build the Science Lab and Lecture Hall; Build the P.E. addition. In some cases matching funds from the state have been used to extend the purchasing power of the funds generated by Measure C for many of those projects ($54 million for currently approved projects). During the past five years, a Citizens Oversight Committee has monitored the use of funds generated by Measure C. Each year, Measure C funds have passed the close perusal of independent audits with no audit exceptions or findings.
As mentioned above, the list of projects for Measure C was larger than the measure would be able to fund to allow flexibility and careful timing of projects for leveraging state funds. Measure M can allow us to fund more of the projects on the list, and the projects listed for Measure M also allow flexibility. Despite the completion of new buildings and more classroom space, additional buildings are needed to meet the needs of growing numbers of students in our community. A lot has changed since College of the Canyons was originally built. When Measure C passed in 2001, the student headcount at College of the Canyons was roughly 11,000. In five years, that population has grown to nearly 19,000, a milestone the college didn’t expect to reach until 2011. The master plan for the college predicted this large growth and outlined the facilities that would be needed to accommodate it. Part of that master plan was a second campus in Canyon Country. Last year, College of the Canyons completed the purchase of 70-acres on Sierra Highway that will be transformed over the next several years into a vibrant campus that will be able to provide college access to an ever-increasing population in that part of our valley. As long as the student population continues to grow there will be need for more classroom space. The cost of construction throughout the nation has skyrocketed in recent years as a result of the impact of China’s growth on the construction industry as well as the impact of the rebuilding in the Gulf States due to hurricane damage. These rising costs have significantly impacted our construction projects – increasing costs and building in some delays resulting from materials simply not being available when they are required. There is no let-up in sight.
By state rules, we must submit all projects we want funding for five years in advance. The state can change its guidelines every time a bond is passed at the statewide level or when the Board of Governors changes what will be funded. Before 2002, no local match was required by the state to get state dollars. In 2002, that changed. In order to get $52 million from the state, we had to have $52 million of our own money. Our eligibility for projects is determined by ever-changing variables, including: The state’s projections for our enrollment growth (which frequently aren’t accurate.) Which categories of projects they will fund and how much is in each category (how the pot of money is divided). What our current space is and how much availability the state believes we have (i.e. right now, we have exceeded their enrollment projections for 2011) versus what we actually need and when we need it. Who else in the community college system is competing for funds from each category and how much money they have to leverage state dollars. (This can increase eligibility by 33 percent.) What our academic departments indicate they need that we didn’t know about at the time we submitted our 5-year construction plans to the state in 2001. In order to maximize our potential to get state funds, we needed to be ready to move forward when the state has money in that category to fund the project. In other words, we needed flexibility to flow with their timeline, not ours! We need local funds to build projects that the state won’t fund when we need them, like the Music/Dance Building. The state wouldn’t have funded the building until 2010, but we needed it in 2004-05. Thanks to Measure C funds, we were able to build it. Lastly, we need local funds to upgrade spaces (repair and renovate existing facilities) that our academic departments need but don’t know they need at the time a particular list is developed. This flexibility allows us to: Meet local department needs. Get as much money from the state as possible per project, freeing up money to fund additional identified projects and needs. Build projects when we need them and support Department and Educational Facilities Master Plans. Add equipment and technology when it is needed.
Music
Given that we can’t predict how large the college district’s service area will become, or what the future role of community colleges will be, nor what demands will be placed on the Santa Clarita Community College District to partner with other entities and initiate collaborative efforts, no one can promise that we will never need another bond. What we can state for a fact is the following projects will be completed on the Valencia campus from Measure M and state funds: The Library will be expanded in accordance with the 1991, 1996, and 2001 Educational and Facilities Master Plans. The Media Arts Building will gain 20,000 square feet of new instructional space and existing spaces vacated by departments moving to the High Technology Building will be renovated to meet the current and future space needs of existing and new programs. Space vacated in the I, L, T, and C Buildings will be remodeled, redesigned and/or renovated per specifics noted in the Academic Department Program Plans. The Central Plant will be completed to improve our energy efficiency. Access for the disabled will be updated and improved. The Student Services/Administration Building will be constructed to better serve students. The University Center will be completed. A technology/equipment fund will be set up to enable us to better respond to the academic and student services department needs as described in the technology and annual plans in a timely way (thus allowing curriculum and program plans to be implemented on department schedules, not when funds are available). Funding support will be provided to enable the College to receive matching funds for three (of the six) permanent buildings to be located at the Canyon Country Campus and to complete development of that site. |
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26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355 U.S.A. |
(661) 259-7800 |
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