Mt. San Jacinto Community College Bond Issue, Measure AA (November 2014)

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A Mt. San Jacinto Community College Bond Issue, Measure AA ballot question was on the November 4, 2014 election ballot for voters in the Mt. San Jacinto Community College District in Riverside County, California. It was approved.

Upon approval, Measure AA issued $295 million in bonds to benefit Mt. San Jacinto Community College. The funds were designated to ensure the school buildings are accessible for the disabled; upgrade classrooms, labs, electrical systems, technology infrastructure and acquire, construct and repair classrooms and facilities.

A 55 percent supermajority vote was required for the approval of Measure AA.

Election results

Riverside County Measure AA
Result		Votes	Percentage
a Yes		76,993	58.82%
No		53,904	41.18%

Election results from Riverside County Elections Office

Text of measure

Ballot question

The question on the ballot appeared as:

“

To expand college buildings serving four-year university transfer, veterans’ education, and career training, by expanding career/support facilities for veterans/military, ensuring buildings are accessible for the disabled, upgrading nursing, emergency responder, criminal justice, vocational job training classrooms, updating science labs, electrical systems, technology infrastructure, acquiring, constructing, and repairing classrooms, facilities, sites/equipment, shall Mt. San Jacinto Community College District issue $295,000,000 in bonds at legal rates with annual financial audits, citizens’ oversight of funds, all funds remaining local?

”

Impartial analysis

The following impartial analysis was prepared for Measure AA:

“	The Board of Trustees (“Board”) of the Mt. San Jacinto Community College (“District”) by adopting Resolution No. 2014/15-001 (“Resolution”), elected to call an election pursuant to Section 18 of Article XVI and Section 1 of Article XIII A of the California Constitution and Section 15100 and 15624 et seq. of the California Education Code to obtain authorization to issue and sell general obligation Bonds (“Bonds”) in the aggregate amount principal amount of two hundred and ninety-five millions dollars ($295,000,000). This Measure was placed on the ballot by the Board of the above-identified District. The Bonds would be used by the District to repair and upgrade campus facilities for career technical education, upgrade classrooms to support programs for veterans and active military personnel, repair and renovate infrastructure to allow access to the disabled, repair, update and modernize infrastructure, including technology, plumbing, electrical, parking and security. The Bonds would not be used to fund the salaries, pensions or benefits of any board members, administrator, and/or teachers or for other school operating expenses. If Measure “AA” is approved, the Board of the District will appoint a citizens’ oversight committee and conduct annual independent audits to assure that bond funds are spent only on 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, and for no other purposes. An ad valorem tax would be levied and collected on property within the boundaries of the District to pay the principal and interest on the Bonds. The Resolution provides that the maximum interest rate on the Bonds will not exceed the maximum interest rate permitted by the applicable laws of the State and the maximum term of the Bonds, or any series thereof, will not exceed 40 years. Approval of Measure “AA” does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the Mt. San Jacinto Community College District that are the subject of the Bonds under Measure “AA” will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure “AA”. The District’s proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure. For this Measure to be approved fifty-five percent (55%) of qualified voters who vote on the Measure must vote yes. A “YES” vote on Measure “AA” is a vote to allow the District to sell the Bonds and levy the necessary taxes to pay for the Bonds. A “NO” vote on Measure “AA” is a vote against allowing the District to sell the Bonds and levy the necessary taxes to pay for the Bonds.	”
—Ronak N. Patel, Deputy County Counsel

Support

Supporters

• Marion Ashley, Riverside County Supervisor
• Joan Sparkman, Southwest Healthcare Governing Board
• Rosemary Salgado, San Jacinto Unified School District and Valley Wide Park & Recreation Trustee
• Stephanie Vasquez, War Veteran
• Karen Cranney, Mt. San Jacinto Faculty Association President

Arguments

The following was submitted as the official arguments in favor of Measure AA:

“	In the last four years, the state has cut millions of dollars from Mt. San Jacinto Community College. We won’t stand for this, and can’t rely on Sacramento politicians to help our local colleges—vote YES on “AA”! Do you think it’s difficult to get a job in today’s slowly recovering economy? We sure do! Vote YES on “AA” to expand essential job training and workforce preparation skills in nursing, science, technology, engineering and math to meet the needs of our local, regional employers. A skilled workforce helps attract more high paying jobs and businesses to our region. YES on “AA” ensures that our tax dollars stay local to address our area’s educational and job training needs. Sacramento is legally prohibited from taking Measure “AA” funds! YES on “AA” helps provide job training and education for our returning military veterans. It is shameful how the federal government is treating our war veterans. Mt. San Jacinto College is a national leader in helping returning veterans reintegrate with their education and careers. It upgrades and expands veteran services and job training so returning veterans receive the support they need to complete their education and enter the civilian workforce. YES on “AA” will: Improve our nationally-recognized, award-winning education by expanding our transfer preparation and career training opportunities/increasing partnerships with area employers to fill local job training needs Benefit students from EVERY region in the District Double the college’s student capacity Upgrade leaky roofs and bathrooms Upgrade outdated nursing labs, paramedic, 9-1-1, law enforcement and job training classrooms Ensure disabled accessibility YES on “AA”’s strict Fiscal Accountability requirements include an expanded Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee and annual financial audits ensuring money is spent as promised. No money will go towards salaries or pensions and ALL money will stay local to address our region’s education and job training needs.	”
—Marion Ashley, Joan Sparkman, Rosemary Salgado, Stephanie Vasquez and Karen Cranney

Opposition

Opponents

• StopTheMoneyGrab.com
• Steven Beutz, Voter and Taxpayer
• Martha L. Bridges, Community Advocate
• Sheryl Ade, Former Wildomar City Councilmember
• Gerard St. Marie

Arguments

The following was submitted as the official arguments in opposition to Measure AA:

“	A vote in favor of this Controversial Bond Measure means Higher Taxes. Measure “AA” means that WE Assume the Obligation to Repay $Millions of Dollars in Debt issued on behalf of Mt. San Jacinto Community College – in addition to Interest and Debt Servicing – which makes Payback on Bonds as high as 1½ to 2 times the Original Debt. So although MSJC will have roughly $300 $Million to Spend, the Money WE are Obligated to Repay could reach nearly $600 $Million – which Bottom Line remains Unknown because MSJC Neglects to Disclose specifics of this ‘Minor’ detail. Bond issuers and Wall Street types are Salivating over Stuffing their pockets full of Your Cash. Measure “AA” also means OUR Homes become Collateral for Repayment of these Bonds. Bond Holders gain a legal Right to Foreclose and Auction off OUR Homes to Secure Debt Payments in event of Default. So if You become short on Funds and choose “Extravagances” such as food, clothing, health care, rent, car payments or gasoline over Repaying MSJC’s Bond, You will risk Foreclosure and having Your Home Sold off at a Public Auction to Repay Bonded Indebtedness. Measure “AA” is swirling in Controversy even before ink dries on the ballots. The MSJC Board of Trustees could Not even reach a consensus on their Decision to load You Down with more Debt. The vote was 4-1, with Trustee Eugene Kadow voting NO on Bonds. MSJC is among the Lowest performing Junior Colleges Statewide. They manage resources Poorly and have left $Millions in State Funding on the table by Failing to increase Class Sections. Now they want You to Backfill their Underperformance with Bonds – Adding ways for You to Lose your $Money and Possibly even Your Home. Enough is enough. StopTheMoneyGrab.com Please join US in voting NO on Measure “AA”.	”
—StopTheMoneyGrab.com, Steven Beutz, Martha L. Bridges, Sheryl Ade and Gerard St. Marie

See also

• Local school bonds on the ballot
• Riverside County, California ballot measures
• November 4, 2014 ballot measures in California

External links

Suggest a link

• Riverside County Vote Info website