Yes on Foothill-De Anza Measure C
At first blush, the Foothill-De Anza Community College District’s $491 million Measure C seems like too much to ask. After all, didn’t voters already approve a $248 million bond for Foothill-De Anza construction in 1999?
However, district officials have done their homework. They spent 18 months crafting a detailed plan for how the money would be wisely spent if voters passed the measure on June 6.
Measure E successfully funded the first phase of upgrades at the 40-year-old campuses. One major chink in the plans was the discovery of an earthquake fault at Foothill, which required rebuilding rather than retrofitting the campus center. But those plans were completed on time and on budget.
Work ahead involves seismic upgrades of facilities, classroom expansion to accommodate steadily growing enrollment, technology upgrades and funds for off-site campuses to anticipate further growth.
As large as the price tag is, mostly due to escalated construction costs, district officials worked hard to keep costs down. They limited the proposal to what they thought was absolutely necessary. In addition, a citizens oversight committee is on hand, as required by law, to ensure accountability.
The importance of our community college district cannot be overestimated. Although much of our local attention involves the elementary and high school districts, the thousands of careers generated through community colleges make them worthy, even vital investments. Foothill and De Anza are two of the best in the state and deserve our continued support. We urge a yes vote on Measure C.
No on Measure A, half-cent sales tax
While Measure C offers a detailed plan for Foothill-De Anza improvements, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors’ proposed half-cent sales tax hike under Measure A is essentially lacking specifics.
We know that health care and transportation services will likely be funded, but the money goes into the general budget. There are no guarantees it will be spent wisely. Granted, 1996’s Measure B was also a general fund initiative and paid for important projects such as the Highway 85/101 interchange. But it also lasted only 10 years. Measure A asks for a 30-year commitment.
Supervisor Liz Kniss says Measure A funding would cover needed improvements to county roadways like Foothill Expressway. But wouldn’t the quarter-cent tax initially proposed also provide necessary funding with less burden on the taxpayers?
Local councilmembers, namely Los Altos’ David Casas and Mountain View’s Greg Perry, who serves on the Valley Transportation Authority board, are convinced a lot of Measure A money would go to wasteful VTA projects, an agency they’ve witnessed as inefficient. We recommend a no vote on Measure A.
