LWV League of Women Voters of California
Smart Voter
Orange County, CA November 5, 2002 Election
Measure C
School Bond
Coast Community College District

88,461 / 65.1% Yes votes ...... 47,449 / 34.9% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 12 4:00pm, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (528/528)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments | Tax Rate Statement |

Orange Coast, Golden West and Coastline Community College Classroom Repair. Public Safety Education Measure. To prepare students for 4-year colleges and jobs, train nurses/police, by improving campus security/fire safety Repairing leaking roofs, upgrading wiring for computer technology; Renovating deteriorating classrooms/libraries; Repairing /acquiring/constructing/equipping buildings, sites, high-tech learning centers; shall Coast Community College District issue $370,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, appoint Citizens Oversight committee, perform annual audits, with no money for administrators' salaries?

Impartial Analysis from County Counsel
The California Constitution provides that community college districts may issue general obligation bonds for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities or the acquisition or lease of real property for school facilities, with the approval of 55% of the voters of the district, voting at an election for that purpose. The California Constitution further provides that the bond measure must include a requirement that the bond proceeds will be used only for the permitted purposes and other requirements designed to ensure accountability.

The Coast Community College District has proposed to the voters that general obligation bonds of the community college district be issued in the amount of $370,000,000 and that ad valorem taxes be levied upon taxable property in the district to repay the bonded indebtedness. The measure provides that proceeds from the sale of the bonds will generally be used to improve district facilities at Orange Coast College, Golden West College and Coastline Community College, including renovation, modernization and construction of district buildings and facilities, upgrading security, fire safety, telecommunications, communications, electrical and air systems, construction of a library, additional classrooms, labs and lecture halls, replacement of temporary buildings, and upgrading classroom technology.

The measure provides that a citizens' oversight committee will be established to ensure that bond proceeds are properly expended and that annual performance and financial audits will be conducted. The measure further provides that bond proceeds will not be used for teacher and administrator salaries and other district operating expenses.

The Board of Trustees of the Coast Community College District has called the election for the purpose of submitting the measure to the voters within the district. If 55% of the voters of the district voting on the measure vote yes, the district may proceed to sell the bonds and levy the related taxes as estimated in the Tax Rate Statement. A no vote on this measure will disapprove the issuance of the bonds and the levy of the taxes for such bonded indebtedness.

  News and Analysis

Orange County Register

Suggest a link related to Measure C
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Arguments For Measure C Arguments Against Measure C
For more than half a century, Orange Coast, Golden West and Coastline Community Colleges have provided excellent, affordable education to more than a million students. These community colleges provide a skilled workforce, prepare students for better-paying jobs, and keep the communities of our district safe and healthy. Our police, nursing and other health care professional programs have trained thousands of health and safety professionals over the years.

However, decades-old campus facilities and buildings threaten quality education. Classrooms, labs and libraries need upgrades to accommodate modern technology. Outdated fire safety equipment and drainage systems need replacement. Additional classrooms, laboratories and lecture halls are also needed to accommodate growing enrollment.

Measure C repairs and improves Orange Coast, Golden West and Coastline Community Colleges at a time when other community colleges in California are being forced to cut classes and turn away students.

Faculty, staff and students identified urgent needs, seeking community input on priorities. Hundreds of citizens responded. Our needs are critical -- and less expensive to address now than in the future. Projects include:

  • Constructing additional classrooms, laboratories and lecture halls
  • Replacing old portable buildings, deteriorating walls, and utility systems from the 1940's
  • Improving fire safety and security systems
  • Upgrading and improving overcrowded libraries
  • Expanding law enforcement and health training academies for police and nursing students

Measure C is subject to tough fiscal accountability requirements.

Financial audits MUST be published annually, with all expenditures monitored by an independent Citizens' Oversight Committee to ensure funds are spent as specified in the Bond Plan.

The Bond Oversight Committee will include senior, taxpayer, and business representatives and finance and construction experts. NO district employees or vendors can serve, and NO money can be spent on administrators' salaries.

No arguments were filed in opposition.

Tax Rate Statement
An election will be held in the Coast Community College District (the "District") on November 5, 2002, for the purpose of submitting to the electors of the District the question of incurring a bonded indebtedness of the District in an aggregate principal amount of $370 million. If such bonds are authorized and sold, the principal thereof and interest thereon will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information regarding tax rates is given to comply with Section 9401 of the California Elections Code. Such information is based upon the best estimates and projections presently available from official sources, upon experience within the District, and other demonstrable factors.

Based upon the foregoing and projections of the District's assessed valuation, and assuming the entire debt service will be paid through property taxation:

1.The best estimate of the tax which would be required to be levied to fund the 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 1.626¢ per $100 of assessed valuation for the year 2003-2004.

2.The best estimate from official sources of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the last sale of the bonds and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply, based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement, is 1.844¢ per $100 of assessed valuation for the year 2014-2015.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the year in which that rate will apply, based on estimated assessed valuation available at the time of filing of this statement, is 1.861¢ per $100 of assessed valuation for the year 2010-2011.

The average annual tax levy is projected to be $16.76 per $100,000 of real property valuation.

Attention to all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing information is based upon projections and estimates only. The actual times of sales of said bonds and the amount sold at any given time will be governed by the needs of the District and other factors. The actual interest rates at which the bonds will be sold, which in any event will not exceed the maximum permitted by law, will depend upon the bond market at the time of sales. The actual assessed values in the future years will depend upon the value of property within the District as determined in the assessment and the equalization process. Accordingly, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated as above stated.


Orange Home Page || Statewide Links || About Smart Voter || Feedback
Created: December 6, 2002 03:14 PST
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://ca.lwv.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.