51,556 / 65.3% Yes votes ...... 27,413 / 34.7% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

A 55% "yes" vote on Measure C will authorize the San Mateo County Community College District to issue up to $207 million in bonds for the specified purposes.

A NO vote of this measure means:

A "no" vote would prevent the San Mateo County Community College District from issuing bonds.

This measure would authorize the San Mateo County Community College District to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $207 million. The bonds will have an interest rate not to exceed the legal maximum and shall mature in no more than 25 years. The Board of Trustees has listed the specified purposes of the bonds to be: upgrade science and computer labs; modernize classrooms and occupational facilities; fix leaking roofs; improve handicapped accessibility; make seismic/safety improvements; finish energy conservation projects; and make other property acquisitions and improvements as specified in the Bond Projects List.

The measure requires the San Mateo County Community College District to take certain steps to account for the proceeds from the sale of the bonds as set forth in Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3) of the California Constitution and Education Code sections 15264 et seq. The District Board must appoint a citizens' oversight committee and conduct annual independent audits to assure that funds are spent only on school and classroom improvements and for no other purposes.

A "yes" vote on this measure would authorize San Mateo County Community College District to issue bonds in an amount not to exceed $207 million, for the specified purposes listed above.

A "no" vote would prevent San Mateo County Community College District from issuing bonds of up to $207 million.

This measure passes if 55% of those voting on the measure vote "yes."

List of Bond Projects

Students attend to prepare for four-year degrees at universities; continue their education or receive training in special fields such as police and fire service, nursing, computers or bioscience. The Colleges also offer many classes for seniors.

Yet classrooms preparing students for tomorrow's jobs are 30-35 years old and lab equipment is 30 to 50 years old. In order to keep pace with technology and provide appropriate space for student learning, the District must renovate and upgrade its facilities. State funding is inadequate; this year all state funds for facilities maintenance and instructional equipment were eliminated.

Measure C is a local reinvestment in our community college assets.

A detailed list of projects and upgrades has been developed, which include:

• Modernize classrooms, science and computer labs
• Improve vocational and technical facilities
• University Center bringing four year degree programs to San Mateo County
• Build library facilities
• Remove hazardous materials
• Finish energy conservation projects
• Seismic retrofits and handicapped access improvements
• Improve police, firefighter and nurse training facilities
• Modernize plumbing, electrical and heating/cooling systems

Measure C benefits all County residents. Business owners, elected officials, educators and teachers, law enforcement, firefighters, nurses, organized labor, homeowner and community groups urge a Yes on Measure C.

/s/ Anna G. Eshoo
Member of Congress

/s/ Jerry Hill
San Mateo County Supervisor

/s/ Kathleen Tyson
President, League of Women Voters Central San Mateo

/s/ Tom Huening
Controller, San Mateo County

/s/ Jackie Speier
State Senator

But inflated figures don't surprise us. When they floated this measure in 1999, they asked for $148 million. -Now it's $207 million. Add interest payments, etc., and we're looking at a total tax bill over $370 million. That's $20,000 per FTES, or $600,000 per 30-student classroom. Taxpayers should get 3 new colleges for that kind of money - not asbestos removal and electrical retrofits. Clearly this is no economy-minded proposal.

That's almost $1,500. in new taxes for each of the county's 250,000 households - on top of existing taxes.

You'd think that record-level taxes would be adequate for the type of maintenance/improvements the proponents claim this bond is for.

Most of us live in older homes - many without record-level incomes - and we are able to arrange our budgets to perform important maintenance before undertaking major expansions.

Indeed, the author of this rebuttal is a part-time student at Canada College, and it appears to him that the campus is presently maintained to a higher standard of quality than most of the homes in the area - i.e. those which would be taxed by this measure. That doesn't seem right or fair.

Yet, the SMCCCD is undertaking many major initiatives, new programs, etc., while complaining that they need a bond for the basic stuff.

They don't need a bond. They need to get their priorities straight.

/s/ Christopher VA Schmidt
Part-Time Student

/s/ Morris Fiorina
Professor, Stanford Univ.

/s/ Margret Buckley Schmidt
UI Design Manager

/s/ Rose A Urbach
San Bruno resident

/s/ John J. Hickey
Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County

And, their pattern of spending tax dollars for voter surveys, touchy feely TV commercials and slick promotional mailings continues. In the past election, they spent nearly $300,000 on such activities, and persuaded the Foundation bearing its name to donate $40,000 to the committee supporting the bond. Total expenditures over the past two years approach $750,000.00

They blame lack of funds for alleged deterioration of campus buildings. Such meritless allegations are hyped to the media using taxpayer dollars.

San Mateo County taxable property values rose from $65,839,959,957 to $79,064,457,064.00, more than 20% in the past two years. Schools receive 65% of property tax revenues. County schools now receive $86 Million dollars more each year than two years ago! This at a time when inflation rose less than 4.5% and enrollment is declining.

Sale of excess Skyline properties, advocated by bond opponents in the last election, have added to available funds. The District's Half Moon Bay property remains undeveloped.

Our high technology information and communication age demands rethinking brick and mortar solutions. Further divestiture of excess District assets is in order.

Canada College can not justify their large campus. In fact, the Board has entertained the idea of leasing facilities to Charter schools and even private schools. College of San Mateo is another example of excess capacity. That capacity was deemed adequate to safely house the student body of San Mateo High.

Divestiture of excess properties and facilities, to private taxpaying owners, would increase property tax revenues and supplement funding for the technology transition.

/s/ Brian Holtz
Candidate for San Carlos School Board

/s/ D. Steinbeck
Business Owner

/s/ Raymond M. Bell Jr.
Candidate for SUHSD Board

/s/ Margret Buckley Schmidt
UI Design Manager

/s/ John J. Hickey
Chair, Libertarian Party of San Mateo County

This group consistently distorts known facts:

• Property tax increases do not benefit the colleges.
• Community Colleges are the lowest-funded education segment.
• The District did not spend one dime on this election.
• All State funds for community college facility repairs have been eliminated.
• Increases in state funding for colleges are significantly less than the cost of living.

Furthermore, the San Mateo County Community College District is widely recognized as one of the best-managed postsecondary institutions in the State. Annually, 40,000 students attend the three schools; nearly 1,000,000 have attended over the years.

Measure C funds will repair and upgrade classrooms; retrofit buildings for earthquakes and handicapped accessibility; and remove asbestos. Measure C is a reinvestment in community assets we voted to build 40 years ago.

These Colleges benefit all county residents. They train police officers, educate teachers and nurses, train high-tech workers and provide the only public four- year college degree available in San Mateo County - at the University Center at Ca¤ada College.

Financial oversight of bond proceeds will be extensive. A Citizens' Oversight committee will monitor all expenditures. The average homeowner will pay less than $2 per month.

We strongly urge a Yes vote on Measure C.

/s/ Don Horsley
San Mateo County Sheriff

/s/ Deberah Bringelson
President & CEO, San Mateo Economic Development Association

/s/ Alyn T. Beals
Chairman of the Board
Redwood City-San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce

/s/ Clara B. Crook
Former Chair, San Mateo County Commission on Aging

/s/ Mike Nevin
President, San Mateo County Board of Supervisors

1. The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the first series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is .714 cents per $100 ($7.14 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2002-2003.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue during the first fiscal year after the sale of the last series of bonds, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is .714 cents per $100 ($7.14 per $100,000) of assessed valuation in fiscal year 2008-2009.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund this bond issue, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is .714 cents per $100 ($7.14 per $100,000) of assessed valuation.

Voters should note that estimated tax rate is based on the ASSESSED VALUE of taxable property on the County's official tax rolls, not on the property's market value. In addition, taxpayers eligible for a property tax exemption, such as the homeowner's exemption, will be taxed at a lower effective tax rate than described above. Certain taxpayers may also be eligible to postpone payment of taxes. Property owners should consult their own property tax bills and tax advisors to determine their property's assessed value and any applicable tax exemptions.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon the District's projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and the years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold per series and market interest rates at the time of each sale, and actual assessed valuations over the term of repayment of the bonds. The dates of sale and the amount of bonds sold at any given time will be determined by the District based on need for construction funds and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold will depend on the bond market at the time of each sale. Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined by the County Assessor in the annual assessment and the equalization process.

(a) Authorization of Bonded Indebtedness, School Facilities Projects.

Shall the San Mateo County Community College District be authorized to incur bonded indebtedness in the principal amount of $207,000,000 to provide financing for the specific school facilities projects in the District listed in the Bond Projects List attached hereto as Exhibit A, subject to all of the accountability requirements specified below?

(b) Accountability Requirements: The following provisions are hereby made a part of the proposition specifically in order to comply with the requirements of Article XIIIA, Section 1(b)(3) of the State Constitution, and the Strict Accountability in Local School Construction Bonds Act of 2000 (codified at Education Code Sections 15264 and following):

(1) The Board hereby certifies that it has evaluated safety, class size reduction and information technology needs in developing the foregoing list of school facilities projects.

(2) Proceeds from the sale of bonds issued pursuant to the authorization of the proposition contained in subdivision (a) of this Section shall be used only for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping thereof, or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, and not for any other purpose, including teacher and administrator salaries and other school operating expenses. The Bond Projects List which is an integral part of this proposition lists the specific projects the District proposes to finance with proceeds of the bonds, but the Board cannot guarantee that the bonds will provide sufficient funds to allow completion of all listed projects. The final cost of each project will be determined as plans are finalized, construction bids are awarded, and projects are completed. Certain construction funds expected from non-bond sources, including State grant funds for eligible projects, have not yet been secured.

(3) The Board shall conduct an annual, independent performance audit to ensure that the bond proceeds have been expended only on the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A of this Resolution.

(4) The Board shall conduct an annual, independent financial audit of the proceeds of sale of the bonds until all of those proceeds have been expended for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A of this Resolution.

(c) Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee. If the proposition is approved by the voters, pursuant to Education Code Section 15278 et seq., the Board shall establish an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee to ensure bond proceeds are expended only for the school facilities projects listed in Exhibit A of this Resolution. If the proposition is approved, this committee shall be established within 60 days of the date when the results of the election appear in the minutes of the Board.

(d) Further Specifications. All of the purposes enumerated in the foregoing shall be united and voted upon as one single proposition, pursuant to Education Code Section 15100. Pursuant to Government Code Section 53410, all the enumerated purposes in the foregoing shall constitute the specific single purpose of the bonds proposed to be issued and sold, and proceeds of the bonds shall be spent only for such purpose. The bonds proposed to be issued and sold shall bear interest at a rate per annum not exceeding the statutory maximum, payable at the time or times permitted by law, and the number of years the whole or any part of the bonds are to run shall not exceed 25 years from the date of the bonds or the date of any series thereof.

(e) Projects List. The bond projects list attached to this resolution as Exhibit A shall be considered a part of the ballot proposition, and is incorporated herein, and shall be reproduced in any official document required to contain the full statement of the bond proposition.

REPAIR & RENOVATION AT DISTRICT CAMPUSES WHERE AND AS NEEDED

• Repair or replace roofing
• Remove hazardous materials, including asbestos
• Renovate or replace plumbing systems
• Energy Efficiency projects:
• Replace or upgrade electrical systems
• Replace or install new lighting systems
• Repair, replace or install new heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
• Repair or upgrade windows
• Install energy management systems
• Replace or upgrade environmental controls
• Renovate or replace storm drainage systems
• Repair or replace sanitary drainage systems
• Improve handicapped accessibility
• Make seismic and structural upgrades
• Repair, replace or renovate underground hot water piping system
• Replace or upgrade fire alarm systems
• Replace or upgrade building fire sprinkler systems
• Renovate or upgrade restrooms
• Repair, renovate or construct elevators and lifts
• Install battery backup power for elevators
• Grade slopes to improve accessibility
• Repair or replace asphalt and concrete surfaces
• Replace or install campus signage to improve accessibility
• Interior and exterior painting and waterproofing
• Replace, repair, or renovate interior finishes
• Repair or replace door hardware and locks
• Replace or repair landscape irrigation systems
• Erosion mitigation projects

• Upgrade or replace science lab equipment (e.g., imaging astronomy cameras, Planetarium star projector, measuring scales, seismograph stations, weather instruments, optic systems and timers, microscopes, etc.)
• Upgrade or replace workforce development, vocational, and occupational lab equipment (e.g., aircraft scales, vacuum systems, fiber optic kits, cutters/torches, motion graphics equipment and software, X-ray systems, light curing units, patient beds, facial machines, professional hair dryers, automotive lifts, and Law Enforcement, Fire Safety and Emergency Medical Training units, etc.)
• Upgrade or replace computer hardware, including network equipment
• Replace obsolete voice and data communications systems
• Renovate, upgrade or install infrastructure for networks
• Replace analog systems with digital broadcast equipment and related communications devices
• Upgrade or replace audio visual equipment
• Upgrade or replace visual/performing arts equipment (e.g., pianos, keyboards, music stands, cameras, projectors, enlargers, developers, audio sound machines, editing machines, recorders)
• Replace or upgrade computer software
• Replace or upgrade furniture and fixtures (e.g., desks, workstations, chairs, tables, podiums, screens, lecterns, white boards, chalk boards)

CANADA COLLEGE

• Library/Learning Resource Center
• University Center
• Student Support Services Extension

• Integrated Science Center
• Vocational Technology & Communications Center
• Regional Public Safety Center
• Student Support Services Center

• Occupational & Workforce Development Center
• Student Support & Community Services Center
• Childhood Development Center
• Pacific Heights campus redevelopment
• Automotive Technology-Transmission Facility

• Temporary classroom, lab, office, restroom, and storage facilities during reconstruction
• Other property acquisitions and improvements to meet student and community needs
• Leased facilities at one or more off-campus locations within the county to accommodate growth and improve accessibility