Taxpayers Association supports Proposition V bond measure for East County colleges

The San Diego County Taxpayers Association, a watchdog organization that looks out for citizens’ tax dollars, has given its support to Proposition V, the $398 million bond measure being sought on the Nov. 6 ballot by the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District.

The taxpayers association, which announced its decision Sept. 21, said the district’s measure meets the key provisions of the group’s bond support criteria, including the district’s adoption of the taxpayer association policy regarding the use of controversial long-term capital appreciation bonds.

In making its recommendation, the taxpayers association underwent a detailed analysis of the East County college district’s proposed measure and studied the district’s performance on Proposition R, the $207 million bond measure that was approved by East County voters in 2002. The money from Proposition R was used to build or renovate 13 major projects on the Grossmont and Cuyamaca campuses, along with numerous infrastructure improvements.

“We’re very pleased that the Taxpayers Association recognized that Grossmont-Cuyamaca will continue to be frugal with taxpayer dollars, just as we were with Prop R,” said Bill Garrett, president of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Governing Board.

If approved by East County voters, funds from Proposition V will be used for creating and improving Veterans Support Centers and career training facilities, modernizing college technology, and updating aging classrooms and infrastructure.

The bond measure calls for the creation of a citizen oversight committee to monitor Proposition V bond expenditures. An oversight committee has been monitoring Proposition R expenditures, which have continued to receive spotless audits throughout the life of the project.

Proposition V must be approved by 55 percent of voters in order to pass. If approved, the typical East County homeowner would be assessed $16.94 per $100,000 of valuation, meaning the typical homeowner would pay about $40 per year. The bond measure is being sought under the Provisions of Proposition 39, which prohibits use of the funds for operations, administrator salaries, or pensions.

Proposition V is the result of a two-year comprehensive needs assessment and planning process based on an educational master plan that will guide the district for the next decade and beyond.A facilities master plan for the district identified numerous building, technology and sustainability needs for the two campuses, which have about 25,000 students.

Grossmont College was built 50 years ago, and has 14 original buildings that are badly in need of repairs and don’t serve today’s technology requirements. Cuyamaca College opened in 1978, and many of its buildings, roads, mechanical systems and fixtures are no longer adequate to serve the campus and its students.

 “Our district has many facility needs, which can only be addressed if Proposition V is approved by East County voters,” Chancellor Cindy L. Miles said. “We need adequate and modern facilities so that our colleges can continue to provide the top-notch education to students that East County has come to expect.”