Bond, tax measures would benefit community colleges

Community colleges may be one of our last truly democratic institutions. For a relatively affordable cost, anyone with a diploma or GED can enroll in courses to improve their skill set, train for a new career or prepare for transfer to a university. But can they afford the high cost of living and working in Silicon Valley, and can the colleges themselves afford to continue to serve them? Foothill-de Anza Community College District’s Measures G and H, on the March 3 ballot, can do something about this dilemma.

Why two measures? Because each addresses specific needs the other cannot. As a general obligation bond, Measure G would allow the district to update aging infrastructure and build more technologically up-todate classrooms. Serving 60,000 students annually takes its toll on the colleges’ facilities. A Citizens’

Bond Oversight Committee reviews all expenditures, and an independent investment firm conducts annual financial audits.

Unfortunately, bonds cannot be used toward general operational expenses, which is where Measure H comes in. It would allow the district to defer some of the costs of attending college, such as instructional materials, and provide assistance with essential needs such as food and mental health counseling. It would also help the district retain faculty, and by law, none of the funds could be used toward administrative salaries. At $48 per parcel, it would also be the lowest school parcel tax in Santa Clara County.

The district would also like to help its students and faculty afford to live where they work and study. Rentals have become so scarce and expensive that even tent space on someone’s property goes for $1,000 a month. Almost half of Foothill-de Anza students have faced housing insecurity, and 12,000 have actually experienced homelessness in the past year. While the district would prefer not to get into the business of housing, it has begun exploring public and private partnerships, including a Joint Powers Authority agreement with Fremont Union, Cupertino Union and Sunnyvale Union school districts.

Finally, the two measures are endorsed by a host of prominent local, state and even national figures, including state Senators Joe Simitian and Jerry Hill, Assembly member Marc Berman, Cupertino Union board member Lorien Cunningham, U.S. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein, Former Cupertino Mayor Savita Vaidhyanathan, Santa Clara County Assessor Larry Stone and the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce.

Tim Shively is president of the Foothill-de Anza Faculty Association.