Voter Guide: Community colleges -- District seeks bond measure to renovate campuses Voter Guide: Community colleges -- District seeks bond measure to renovate campuses (October 26, 2005)

By Marjorie Mader

Almanac Staff Writer

Voters throughout San Mateo County will have a stake in the future of the San Mateo County Community College District when they cast votes on a $468 million bond measure November 8.

Passage of Measure A would enable the district to complete the upgrading and renovation of facilities at its three campuses -- Canada in Woodside, College of San Mateo, and Skyline College in San Bruno.

Voters approved a $207 million bond measure four years ago that addressed health and safety issues, but the district says more funds are needed to complete repairs on the 40-year-old buildings. State funds to renew and update facilities have been practically nonexistent for 15 years.

Bond funds would be used to:

** Update nursing and healthcare training labs; modernize science, engineering and computer labs and classrooms; and build training facilities for firefighters and police.

** Complete seismic retrofits and energy-saving projects and improve handicapped access.

** Remove hazardous materials, including asbestos.

Passage of Measure A requires approval by 55 percent of the voters.

The best estimate of the tax rate during the first fiscal year is $12.51 per $100,000 of a property's assessed valuation in the 2006-07 fiscal year, according to James W. Keller, the district's executive vice chancellor.

"It's critical to pass Measure A," said Trustee Helen Hausman. "We need it because we're dealing with basics that need to be fixed."

About 40,000 students are enrolled in the three community colleges. Students prepare to transfer to four-year universities or receive training for work in nursing, healthcare, technology, biotech, firefighting and law enforcement.

Signing the ballot statement in favor of Measure A are: State Sen. Jackie Speier; Lee Buffington, county tax collector/treasurer; Delphine H. Silverman, president, League of Women Voters of Central San Mateo County; Mario Panoringan, past president, Daly City/Colma Chamber of Commerce; and Marion McDowell, former member of the State Board of Education.

Opposition to the Measure A comes from John J. Hickey, chair of the Libertarian Party of San Mateo County and also a candidate for the college district board. He and the four others who signed the argument against the measure claim the three campuses are "overbuilt and overextended" and question the district's enrollment, funding costs and the oversight of the Citizen's Oversight Committee.

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