Faculty Voice: May 2016: Considerations Regarding Measure Q

by Michael Mangin, Robin McFarland, and Conrad Scott-Curtis

  1. The State of California no longer automatically funds deferred maintenance and facilities upgrades for community colleges. Instead taxpayers in local districts are asked to fund college facility needs through the bond process.
  2. On average, California community colleges go out for a bond every six years, and it has been twelve years since Cabrillo’s last bond.
  3. Without exception, all of the facilities and technology projects proposed in the Measure Q plan have been fully vetted through the college’s shared governance planning processes. The faculty members on all of the key committees (College Planning Council, Facilities, and Technology) have uniformly supported Measure Q.
  4. Details of the proposed projects are contained in numerous planning documents, including one spreadsheet that runs to 65 pages. These documents and information are available to the public here.
  5. Every dollar spent will be scrutinized in published, public annual audits, by an Independent Citizens Oversight committee, and by your voter-elected Board of Trustees.
  6. Measure Q proceeds will, among other priorities, repair and upgrade systems that need attention 12 years after the most recent bond.

We welcome the public debate and consideration that is part of our democratic process and ask that you join us in supporting YES on Q.