| Viewpoint - Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Letter: Vote for Measure G to help community colleges
Our community colleges train students for many important careers across the employment spectrum from police officers and firefighters to nurses and medical technicians.
Over the past several years, Canada College, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College have had to reduce their budgets by approximately $20 million due to state budget cuts. Unfortunately, these reductions are happening during a time when enrollments are surging. Students cannot get the classes they need, so they will take longer to graduate and become productive members of our communities.
Measure G on the June 8 ballot is a $34 parcel tax —less than $3 per month — for the community colleges. Measure G would partially restore some of the lost revenue to our community colleges and would be in effect for four years to help the colleges bridge the gap in lost state revenue.
No money will be used for administrator salaries, and seniors can claim a tax exemption. The San Mateo County Community College District has pledged to use all of the new funding to restore classes in important areas, such as career technical education; basic core academics in reading, writing, and math; and preparation for students to transfer to a four-year college.
The community colleges play a very important role in helping to create jobs and grow our economy. Please join me in voting yes on Measure G to help preserve classes for students.
Virginia Chang Kiraly, commissioner
California Commission for Economic Development
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