Pass: 149399 / 63.04% Yes votes ...... 87606 / 36.96% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote on this measure means:

A "yes" vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the San Diego Community College District to issue and sell $870,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

A NO vote on this measure means:

A "no" vote is a vote against authorizing the San Diego Community College District to issue and sell $870,000,000 in general obligation bonds.

Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this proposition may be used by the District only for the construction, reconstruction and/or rehabilitation of its community college facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of its facilities, acquisition, or lease of real property for its facilities and construction management by District personnel.

The interest rate on any bond, which is established at the time of bond issuance, cannot exceed 12% per annum. The final maturity date of any bond could be no later than 25 years after the date of bonds issued pursuant to the Education Code or not later than 40 years after the date of bonds issued pursuant to the Government Code. Principal and interest on the bonds would be paid by revenue derived from an annual tax levied upon the taxable property within the District in an amount sufficient to pay the interest as it becomes due and to provide a fund for payment of the principal on or before maturity.

Article XIII A of the California Constitution exempts from the one percent property tax rate limitation ad valorem taxes to pay the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness for the acquisition or improvement of real property, including the furnishing and equipping of community college facilities, when approved by 55% of the voters if: (a) the proceeds from the sale of the bonds are used only for the purposes specified, (b) the District, by evaluating safety, class size reduction, and information technology, has approved a list of specific projects to be funded, (c) the District will conduct an annual, independent performance audit, and (d) the District will conduct an annual, independent financial audit. If a bond measure is approved by 55% of the voters, state law requires the governing board of the District to establish an independent citizens' oversight committee: The District has made this ballot proposition subject to these requirements.

Approval of this proposition does not guarantee that the proposed projects in the District that are the subject of these bonds will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by this proposition.

San Diego Community College District

Despite ongoing maintenance and facility improvements, aging and overcrowded college facilities are inadequate to accommodate classes and training that students need and the job market demands. As one of our nation's oldest and largest community college districts, educational facilities need upgrading.

Proposition N will provide funds to complete the rehabilitation of deteriorated college facilities and add classrooms and instructional support space.

Proposition N will:

• Renovate or add classrooms for nursing, police, paramedic, and firefighting careers

• Upgrade science and high-tech training labs and equipment

• Expand electrical and technology infrastructure

• Repair or replace aging roofs

• Improve energy efficiency and deteriorated safety/security systems

• Construct educational and student support facilities for improved safety and access

Proposition N requires strict fiscal controls and accountability. An independent Citizens' Oversight Committee and mandatory audits will ensure funds are spent properly. No monies can be used for administrative salaries. All funds must stay local to benefit City, Mesa, and Miramar Colleges and San Diego Community College District Adult & Continuing Education Centers.

City College opened in 1914, Mesa in 1964 and Miramar in 1969. Together, they train virtually all of San Diego's public safety professionals: firefighters, police, nurses and paramedics. The colleges provide specialized training for U.S. Military personnel locally. Technical training programs have nearly 100% employment rates for graduates.

San Diego educators, public safety providers, and civic and business leaders urge your support.

Please vote Yes on Proposition N.

WILLIAM B. KOLENDER
Sheriff of San Diego County
TRACY JARMAN
Fire Chief, City of San Diego
KATHY M. McGINNIS
Faculty Senate President
San Diego City College
REV. GEORGE WALKER SMITH
Civic Leader
DEIRDRE "DEDE" ALPERT
State Senator, Retired

• Proponents mislead voters by asserting that "No monies [from this bond] can be used for administrative salaries." Actually, such money is fungible - dollars raised by this measure can free up EXISTING construction and repair dollars to be spent elsewhere - including on opulent salaries and lavish pensions.

• Like most efforts to pass school bonds, San Diego Community College bureaucrats point to unsafe buildings that are in disrepair. It's a standard pitch. We give them tons of tax money, and they can't maintain our schools. Their solution? Go borrow MORE money.

• Indeed, it's almost as if education bureaucrats INTENTIONALLY keep some areas in disrepair, just to convince the media and the public that our education facilities are about to burst into flames, or collapse into rubble.

• Why should we reward such mismanagement with an $870 million bond? And what does that teach our young people about accountability?

• Guess what? This isn't the only property tax issue on your ballot. Prop 88 is a statewide real estate parcel tax for - you guessed it - education. If Prop 88 passes, it will break the back of Prop 13, allowing future statewide property tax measures to pass with a simple majority vote.

• It's time to draw the line in the sand. We must send a message - NO more tax increases or bond measures! Vote NO on ALL such props on your ballot.

RICHARD RIDER Chair, San Diego Tax Fighters EDWARD TEYSSIER Chairman, San Diego Libertarian Party JOHN BOWMAN Retired Property Manager

• Apparently politicians believe that money DOES grow on trees. Why else would we see over forty BILLION dollars' worth of state bonds on the ballot? Plus two-major statewide tax increases and a massive oil "fee" increase?

• You'd think that there's a shortage of revenue + that somehow we taxpayers are not paying our "fair share." But the truth is that government revenue streams are growing nicely WITHOUT new taxes being levied or raised. Compared to other states, our state and local taxes are quite high already.

• It's become a cliche but it is still true + we don't have a revenue problem; we have a spending problem!

• That being said, do we need to spend even more money on community college education + issuing school bonds? No!

• We taxpayers already spend quite a lot on community college education. If further funding is needed, which is doubtful, then it should be the students and their families who foot the bill through higher tuitions. There is no reason for community colleges to be so much cheaper than state colleges such as SDSU.

• Low income students already can get relief from paying full tuition. But the rest should pay a more reasonable tuition to reflect the value of these courses.

• The LAST thing we need to do is go deeper into debt for our community colleges. It's time for bureaucrats to better utilize the money that we ALREADY spend on education. This ballot is awash with bonds and tax increases. Enough is enough! If you think that your taxes are already too high, or just feel that taxes are high enough, you should vote NO.

For more information, contact San Diego Tax Fighters
SDTF@EconomyTelcom.com phone 858-530-3027

FRED SCHNAUBELT
Former San Diego City Councilman
JOHN MURPHY
Retired Naval Officer
EDWARD TEYSSIER
Small Business Owner
LA VONNE MISNER
Retired
RICHARD RIDER
Chair, San Diego Tax Fighters

FACT: Proposition N WON'T raise your tax rate. It simply extends the existing assessment authorized by voters in 2002.

FACT: San Diego Community College District has developed a comprehensive Facilities Master Plan to guide its efforts. Based on this plan, Proposition N authorizes critical classroom and lab modernization, technology upgrades, and more, WITHOUT RAISING YOUR CURRENT TAX RATE.

FACT: Because a college education has become so expensive, more and more people are relying on community colleges for some or all of their education. Proposition N will help provide students with a high quality education they might not otherwise receive.

FACT: Rehabilitating aging college facilities will cost less now than in the future. The longer we wait to make upgrades, the more expensive it will be.

FACT: By law, Proposition N funds must stay local and can only be used for facility projects listed on the official Proposition N Project List.

FACT: ALL funds are subject to mandatory annual audits and Independent Citizens' Oversight.

FACT: City, Mesa and Miramar Colleges train the vast majority of San Diego's public safety workforce: firefighters, police, nurses and paramedics. Proposition N will help train additional public safety professionals. Most of these graduates will stay in our community for their entire careers.

Don't be persuaded by people with limited knowledge about our community colleges. Proposition N is a smart, responsible plan and a good investment to ensure quality community college facilities for years to come.

Please VOTE YES on N.

WILLIAM B. KOLENDER
San Diego County Sheriff
DEIRDRE "DEDE" ALPERT
State Senator, Retired
AUGIE GHIO
Former Homeland Security Director
City of San Diego
EVONNE SERON SCHULZE
Chairperson
Proposition S Citizens' Oversight Committee
ELIZABETH CURTIS
CEO, SHARP Community Medical Group

It is estimated that the combined tax rate of the Measure N and Measure S elections will not exceed a tax rate of $25.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation at any point in time the Bonds are outstanding. 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 for the first series of Bonds sold in fiscal year 2008-09 based on estimated assessed valuations available at the time of filing of this statement is $15.97 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate which would be required to be levied to fund the Bond issue during the last sale of the Bonds in fiscal year 2015-16 and the rate that will apply based upon estimated assessed valuation available at the time of filing of this statement is $24.98 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

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 $25.00 per $100,000 of assessed valuation for the year 2029-30.

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. Hence, the actual tax rates and the years in which such rates are applicable may vary from those presently estimated as above stated.

Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D.
Chancellor
San Diego Community College District