Meaning of Voting Yes/No

A YES vote of this measure means:

you are in favor of authorizing the bonded indebtedness and appointment of the committee.

A NO vote of this measure means:

you are against authorizing the bonded indebtedness and appointment of the committee.

The ballot measure would authorize bonded indebtedness not to exceed two-hundred-thirty-six million dollars ($236,000,000) with interest not to exceed the maximum legal rate. In exchange for money received from the holder of the bonds, the District will promise to pay to the holder interest for a certain period of time and to repay the loan on the expiration date. The number of years the bonds are to run will not exceed twenty-five years from the date of the bonds or any bonds series.

Subject to California Education Code section 15100, the money raised would be used for the following purposes: to repair and renovate classrooms; upgrade science and computer labs; and modernize, construct, acquire, and improve property for instructional and instructional support facilities. The District's resolution calling for the bond election also states the District's intent to use no more than $850,000 of the money raised to reimburse the District for its expenditures made on or after July 1,2000 and before this election for the capital costs of accessibility improvements to District facilities required to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and building improvements for the use of new technologies.

The ballot measure also calls for the establishment of a citizens' oversight committee to monitor the spending of the funds.

Two-thirds of those voting on the measure must approve the measure in order for it to pass.

In 1949 the college opened with 850 students. Today it is one of the largest and best community college systems in California, enrolling over 55,000 students.

After extensive use of over five decades, existing facilities have grown old. Limited space has resulted in crowded, deteriorated classrooms. Overcrowded and deteriorating facilities are hurting the quality of our education system.

The district has made every effort to manage resources wisely. But resources are limited and needs are growing. Electrical, heating and air conditioning, lighting and plumbing systems need repair. Science and computer labs are antiquated.

Measure K will provide funding to rehabilitate deteriorated facilities and add classrooms and other essential instructional support space. Measure K will cost the average homeowner less than $1.50 per month. Measure K will:

• Upgrade electrical systems for safety and improved access to technology;
• Renovate outdated classrooms and science and computer labs;
• Provide additional classroom and instructional support space;
• Replace inefficient lighting, heating, and ventilation systems;
• Replace deteriorated restrooms, plumbing and sewer systems.

Warren E. Rupf, County Sheriff-Coroner

Bob Campbell, Former State Assemblyman

Manuel Soliz, Jr., Member, Antioch City Council

Donna Gerber, Board of Supervisors, District 3

Kristine Chase, President, Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board

• Since 1985, CCCCD's SALARIES AND BENEFITS have grown far more than district enrollments and inflation combined. Measure K wouldn't pay salaries directly; but "freed-up" general-fund maintenance dollars could - a classic bait-and-switch.
• "55,000 STUDENTS" INCLUDE SINGLE-COURSE ENROLLEES. The better enrollment indicator is "full-time equivalent students' - at 28,386, little changed since 1992.
• CCCCD'S FAILED 1996 BOND anticipated costs like $8,000 PER CLASSROOM just to "paint interior surfaces". What's included now?
• DESPITE CERTIFIED-MAIL ADVISEMENT THAT PUBLIC-MONEY CAMPAIGN FUNDING IS ILLEGAL, CCCCD spent many thousands promoting the 1996 bond scheme. CCCCD LATER PAID A $16,000 FPPC FINE - again, with taxpayer funds - for not reporting its impermissible campaign-finance expenditures.
• OTHER FISCAL SCANDALS FOLLOWED IN 1998: departure of Contra Costa College president Doreen "Candy" Rose after financial improprieties were uncovered; and a separate audit that found CCCCD's accounting department in disarray.
• CCCCD HAS ALREADY RECEIVED $37 MILLION IN FACILITIES MONEY from Propositions 203 (1996) and 1A (1998).
• MEASURE K INCLUDES $41.3 MILLION IN "INFLATION AND CONTINGENCY" SLUSH FUNDS, AND $56.9 MILLION FOR A "SCALED-DOWN CAMPUS CENTER" JUST 7 MILES FROM LAS POSITAS COLLEGE.
• "CITIZENS' OVERSIGHT COMMITTEES" OFTEN BECOME JUST CRONY COMMITTEES, happily spending already-voted cash bonanzas.

Please Vote NO on K!

http://www.taxedenough.com
(925) 275-2995

James M. Arata - Industrial Water-Treatment Consultant; Coordinator, Taxed Enough Already, Danville

Jean D. Last - Teacher, Former Small Business Owner; Member, Taxed Enough Already, Brentwood

Peter T. Muller - Construction Industry Consultant; Board Member, Alliance of Contra Costa Taxpayers, Orinda

Cynthia Turner - Former Realtor; Member, Taxed Enough Already, Danville

Nancy Woodfield - Small Business Owner; Member, Taxed Enough Already, Lafayette

INSTEAD, CCCCD'S EXTRAVAGANT NEW MONSTER BOND SCHEME ASKS CONTRA COSTA TAXPAYERS TO FINANCE AN ADDITIONAL $236 MILLION GRAB-BAG. That's 62.8% higher than CCCCD's failed 1996 proposal for $145 Million.

• MEASURE K'S TOTAL PRINCIPAL + INTEREST IS A COLOSSAL $581 MILLION OVER 40 YEARS - assuming CCCCD's optimistic projections!
• BUT TOTAL TAXPAYER COSTS COULD GO EVEN HIGHER. Payments on Measure K bonds issued from 2001 through 2014 could easily exceed the low 6.25% interest rate presumed.
• READ THE FINE PRINT: Measure K's quoted annual take of $8.60 per $100,000 assessed value "is based upon District projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District" (emphasis added). Should you trust long-term guesstimates from a district involved in several financial scandals since 1995?
• IF PROPOSITION 39 PASSES, even larger property tax increases will follow.
• MEANWHILE, CCCCD ENROLLMENT NUMBERS ARE ESSENTIALLY FLAT, despite non-stop recruitment. "Fall Census Enrollments," peaking at 39,216 in 1992, dropped to 34,778 in 1999 (CCCCD now apparently prefers counting "full-time equivalent students" - 28,044 for 1992-1992; 28,386 for 1999-2000.)
• CCCCD SALARIES CONTINUE SPIRALING UPWARD, HOWEVER-ESPECIALLY FOR THE DISTRICT'S NUMEROUIS ADMINISTRATORS. CCCCD's Chancellor is paid more than Governor Davis. CCCCD Presidents get up to $134,501 in base salary alone; Vice Chancellors, $122,532; Associate Chancellors, $111,000; Deans, $117,000; Assistant Deans, $100,488...Generous benefits further enrich CCCCD employees.

PLEASE VOTE NO on K!

Jeff A. Black - Financial Analyst, Danville; SRV Citizens Opposing Unreasonable New Taxes

Mary Lopez - Former Real Estate Broker, Richmond; Taxed Enough Already

Gregory K. Lyon - Construction Accountant, Alamo; Contra Costa Libertarian Party Coordinator

Carl R. Piercy - Former Engineering Director; Lafayette Taxpayer's Association

Angel C. Sudario - Information Technology Consultant; former Member of City Council, Antioch; Former Chair, Citizens Against Needless Taxes

Contra Costa is the largest county in California that does not have a four-year state college or university. As such, 55,000 local students attend one of the Contra Costa Community College campuses.

These campuses are now aging and in need of major renovation. Job training facilities are outdated and in some cases obsolete. Classrooms are overcrowded. Currently Contra Costa taxpayers are paying no tax assessments for our local community colleges.

In fact, we pay more for mosquito abatement than for higher education. The cost of this bond measure is small, less than 9 dollars per year for property assessed at $100,000. This is tax deductible.

By law, no funds may be used to pay administrative salaries or benefits. All funds may only be used for facilities.

Passage of Measure K will quality our community for state matching funds that would otherwise be given to other community colleges in other parts of the state.

Passage of Measure K will ensure that our community colleges have the necessary facilities students need to face the challenges of a highly competitive, technology-driven society. Both Democratic and Republican leaders support Measure K. Business leaders, who will pay the largest proportion of the bond, also support Measure K.

Nurses, teachers, police, firefighters, emergency medical workers, dental technicians, mechanics, computer programmers, are but a few of the many Contra Costa residents who will benefit from improved classrooms and facilities.

Please vote Yes.

Warren E. Rupf, County Sheriff-Coroner

Bob Campbell, Former State Assemblyman

Manuel Soliz, Jr, Member, Antioch City Council

Donna Gerber, Board of Supervisors, District 3

Kristine Chase, President, Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board

The assessed valuations used to calculate those tax rates appear reasonable.

Stephen Ybarra for
Kenneth J. Corcoran. Auditor-Controller, Contra Costa County