MiraCosta Community College District, California, Bond Issue, Measure MM (November 2016)
| Measure MM: MiraCosta Community College District Education Bond |
|---|
|
| The basics |
| Election date: |
| November 8, 2016 |
| Status: |
 ApprovedMajority required: 55% |
| Topic: |
| Local school bonds Tax: $14.99 per $100,000 in value Matures in: Legal limit |
| Related articles |
| Local school bonds on the ballot November 8, 2016 ballot measures in California San Diego County, California ballot measures |
| See also |
A bond issue was on the ballot for MiraCosta Community College District voters in San Diego County, California, on November 8, 2016. It was approved.
| A yes vote was a vote in favor of issuing $455 million in bonds for upgrading classrooms and facilities and providing joint training support to veterans. |
| A no vote was a vote against issuing $455 million in bonds for classroom upgrades and veteran educational support. |
A 55 percent supermajority vote was required for the approval of this measure.
Election results
| Measure MM | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 104,493 | 62.39% | ||
| No | 62,992 | 37.61% | ||
- Election results from San Diego County Elections Office
Text of measure
Ballot question
The following question appeared on the ballot:[1]
| “ |
MIRACOSTA COLLEGE JOB TRAINING, COLLEGE TRANSFER, VETERAN SUPPORT MEASURE. To upgrade classrooms and career training facilities for science, healthcare, technology, advanced manufacturing, other growing local industries, provide job training/placement to Navy/ Marines/ other veterans, improve access to affordable higher education to local students, improve disabled access, repair, construct, acquire classrooms, facilities, sites/equipment, shall MiraCosta Community College District issue $455,000,000 in bonds, at legal rates, subject to local control, requiring annual audits, and independent citizen oversight? [2] |
” |
Impartial analysis
The following impartial analysis of the measure was prepared by the office of the San Diego County Counsel:
| “ |
This measure was placed on the ballot by the governing board of the MiraCosta Community College District (“District”). This measure, if approved by 55% of the votes cast on the measure, will authorize the District to issue and sell $455,000,000 in general obligation bonds. The sale of these bonds by the District is for the purpose of raising money for the District, and represents a debt of the District. In exchange for the money received from the bond holders, the District promises to pay the holders an amount of interest for a certain period of time, and to repay the bonds on the expiration date. Voter approval of this measure will also authorize an annual tax to be levied upon the taxable property within the District. The purpose of this tax is to generate sufficient revenue to pay interest on the bonds as it becomes due and to provide a fund for payment of the principal on or before maturity. Proceeds from the sale of bonds authorized by this measure may be used by the District for the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or replacement of community college facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of community college facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for community college facilities. The interest rate on any bond, which is established at the time of bond issuance, could not exceed 12% per annum. The final maturity date of any bond could be no later than 40 years after the date the bonds are issued as determined by the District. The tax authorized by this measure is consistent with the requirements of the California Constitution. The California Constitution permits property taxes, above the standard one percent (1%) limitation, to be levied upon real property to pay the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness for, among other things, the construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, or replacement of school facilities, including the furnishing and equipping of school facilities, when approved by 55% of the voters if: (1) the proceeds from the sale of the bonds are used only for the purposes specified, (2) the District, by evaluating safety, class size reduction, and information technology needs, has approved a list of specific projects to be funded, (3) the District will conduct an annual, independent performance audit, and (4) the District will conduct an annual, independent financial audit. If a bond measure is approved, state law requires the District to establish an independent citizens’ oversight committee. The District has made this ballot measure subject to these requirements. Approval of this measure 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 measure. A “YES” vote is a vote in favor of authorizing the District to issue and sell $455,000,000 in general obligation bonds. A “NO” vote is a vote against authorizing the District to issue and sell $455,000,000 in general obligation bonds. [2] |
” |
| —San Diego County Counsel[3] | ||
Full text
The full text of the measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
The following individuals signed the official argument in favor of the measure:[3]
- Gregory A. Stein, Chairman, San Diego County Taxpayers Association
- Joe Panetta, President & CEO, Biocom
- David M. Brahms, retired Brigadier General, USMC
- Emily Russell, President, National Student Nurses Association at MiraCosta College
Arguments in favor
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in favor of the measure:[3]
| “ |
Vote YES on Measure MM to improve MiraCosta College: a vital contributor to our North San Diego County economy and an essential resource for local students seeking affordable higher education and preparation for 21st century careers. MiraCosta College provides training in growing fields like biotechnology, nursing, maritime technology and high-tech manufacturing. Local technology companies, hospitals and businesses count on MiraCosta College for skilled workers. More than 1,800 active-duty military personnel, veterans and their families rely on MiraCosta College for essential job training and counseling services. From Carmel Valley in the south to Camp Pendleton in the north, more than one- third of local high school graduates attend MiraCosta College. As the cost of four- year college skyrockets, demand for MiraCosta College’s excellent, affordable higher education has risen. It has been more than 50 years since MiraCosta College received significant funding for facility improvements. Classrooms, laboratories and career training facilities need upgrading. Additional classrooms and labs are needed to serve the growing demand for career training in healthcare, science, technology, engineering and math. State government will not provide the necessary funds to our college. Vote YES on MM:
Every Penny Stays Local
Join business leaders, veterans, taxpayer advocates, educators and students in supporting Measure MM: protect MiraCosta College as an essential resource for local students and employers alike.[2] |
” |
Opposition
Opponents
The following individuals signed the official argument against the measure:[3]
- Gary D. Gonsalves, M.D., co-founder Stop Taxing Us
- Sheila S. Cameron, former Mayor of Encinitas
- Brian J. Brady, former board member, Republican Party of San Diego County
- Jerry Peters, President, Cardiff Taxpayers Association
- Robert Bonde, President, Encinitas Taxpayers Association
Arguments against
Official argument
The following official argument was submitted in opposition to the measure:[3]
| “ |
The proposed MiraCosta College $455 million General Obligation Bond is not necessary. This request for more tax dollars comes at a time when facility needs are declining because of flat enrollment and 40% of all of MiraCosta’s credits are now being granted for online courses. MiraCosta is a wealthy district. It receives more each year in local property taxes and other income than required to operate its educational programs and with state aid, to fund its ongoing facilities’ needs. Over the years, taxpayers have provided MiraCosta more than 70 buildings. About half, have been constructed in the past 40 years. Now, it appears that those in power want to reconfigure the 3 campuses. They want $455 million of your money to tear down some very expensive, fully functional buildings and to replace them with new ones. Because the $455 million is beyond MiraCosta’s borrowing and state support limits, it is jumping on the bond market band wagon and hoping voters will blindly pass its unsupported Measure MM request. MiraCosta has language in this proposal that will allow it to basically use the $455 million for whatever construction projects it wants, where it wants and when it wants. Consequently, if voters approve the bond they will not be assured that everything proposed will ever be built. The massive $455 million is not justified. The MiraCosta bond request amount is 23 times more than the system wide California Community College Trustees included in its 5 year plan and 10 times more than even what MiraCosta told these trustees it needed. While additional facilities may be desired, they appear to be within the capability of the existing MiraCosta budget. No new bonds/taxes are required. Please stop the waste - Vote No on MiraCosta Collage Measure MM [2] |
” |
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a vote of the governing officials of MiraCosta Community College District, California.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms MiraCosta Community College District Local school bonds. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ San Diego Registrar of Voters, "Local Measures for November 8, 2016," accessed September 29, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 San Diego Registrar of Voters, "Measure MM," accessed October 6, 2016
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