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Frequently Asked Questions - Measure V
What role does Monterey Peninsula College play in our community?
Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) provides high-quality, affordable education and career training to our diverse community and is a designated Hispanic Serving Institution. MPC educates the essential workers the community depends on, including the nurses and healthcare professionals that serve our medical needs; the police, firefighters and first responders that keep us safe, and the skilled workers who fuel our economy.
Because the cost of attending Cal State and the University of California (UC) system has become so expensive, more students are starting their education at community colleges like Monterey Peninsula College. In fact, around 50% of all local high school graduates rely on MPC for higher education and career training.
In these challenging times, it is important MPC remains a vital community resource and economic engine, providing career training for the region’s in-demand jobs and generating millions of dollars per year for the local economy.
What challenges are facing Monterey Peninsula College?
While MPC has served the community well for over 70 years, several college buildings were built so long ago that they have asbestos, lead pipes and do not meet proper earthquake safety standards. By law, these safety hazards need to be fixed. Upgrades to facilities, classrooms and technology are also needed to give students the tools they need to complete their first two years of college affordably.
Even if MPC must continue with online learning in the upcoming academic year, we still need to focus on upgrading technology to better support distance learning and repairing our classrooms, labs and job training facilities so they are safe and ready to support a modern education going forward.
What is Measure V?
MPC recently commissioned a survey of local residents that found 66% support for an investment to improve aging local college facilities. As a result, on July 30, 2020 the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to place Measure V, a $230 million local facilities bond measure on the November 3, 2020 ballot. Measure V would:
- Repair leaky roofs, old rusty plumbing and dry rotted beams, replace faulty electrical systems to improve energy efficiency and upgrade facilities so the College can operate in a more environmentally sustainable way
- Keep computer systems and instructional technology up-to-date
- Upgrade classrooms and labs to help local students complete the first two years of college affordably and transfer to the Cal State or UC system
- Upgrade classrooms and career training facilities for science, technology, engineering, math, computer science, healthcare, hospitality and nursing
- Make the computer and technology upgrades needed for students to be able to take classes, listen to lectures and complete assignments online
How can I be sure funds from aMeasure V would be spent properly?
Measure V requires a clear system of fiscal accountability including:
- A project list detailing exactly how the funds would be used, a Citizens’ Oversight Committee and independent audits to ensure funds would be spent properly
- All funds raised by Measure V would stay local and no funds could be taken away by the State
- By law, no money from Measure V could be spent on administrators’ salaries or pensions
Does the State provide funding for college facility improvements?
No, the State does not provide dedicated funding for college facility improvements. The very limited State funding for facility upgrades requires local matching funds usually provided by a local college improvement measure. If approved, Measure V would help MPC qualify for up to $230 million in State matching funds.
How much would Measure Vcost?
The measure would cost property owners approximately 1.8 ¢ per $100 of assessed (not market) value annually, or approximately $87 per year for the typical homeowner while bonds are outstanding.What if I rent my home and I do not own a property? How much would Measure V cost me?
The cost of Measure V is paid by the property owner. If you rent your home and do not pay property taxes, there would be no direct cost to you resulting from Measure V
Do businesses share in the cost of Measure V?
Yes, all property owners, including owners of commercial or industrial property, pay the cost of the Measure V based on the assessed value of their property.
What is the difference between assessed value and market value?
The assessed value of a property is based on the original purchase price and may not increase by more than 2% a year, while the market value tends to grow at a much faster rate based on market conditions. Thus, the assessed value is usually much lower than the market value, especially if a property was purchased long ago at a much lower price than it could be purchased for today. It is this assessed value that the cost of Measure V is based upon.
Is this the right time to consider an investment in our college facilities?
Acknowledging the current economic challenges, MPC recently conducted a survey of local residents before moving forward with a bond measure and 66% of local voters indicated support for the measure.
It has been almost 20 years since MPC last passed a bond measure to improve college facilities. Addressing student health, safety and security needs at MPC are more important than ever and technology upgrades are needed now to support distance learning and online courses. Waiting will likely make the necessary repairs more expensive to complete and will mean local students must wait years for urgent upgrades to classrooms, labs and job training facilities. With budget constraints due to the recent economic downturn, Measure V would provide a dedicated source of local funding for facility improvements.
Additionally, the economic recession caused by the coronavirus has put a lot of people out of work, and Measure V would provide laid-off workers with local access to affordable career training so they can learn new skills that match the needs of local employers.
Will Measure V address student health and safety issues related to COVID-19?
Yes. While campus will not reopen in the fall, proposed facilities improvements would incorporate best practices to keep students healthy and safe when they do return to campus. Measure V would also help strengthen technology infrastructure that supports distance learning and online courses.
Has the community supported a local bond measure for MPC before?
Yes, local voters approved Measure I in 2002 to improve and modernize college facilities. You can find the citizen oversight reports on bond projects and expenditures at https://www.mpc.edu/about-mpc/campus-information/mpc-bond-measure/citizen-s-bond-oversight-committee.
While Measure I successfully addressed the most critical facilities needs at the time, it has been almost 20 years since it was passed. The next phase of improvements is needed at Monterey Peninsula College to ensure students have access to modern education and career training programs with updated technology and facilities.
Would I be able to vote on Measure V?
All registered voters living in Monterey Peninsula Community College District are eligible to vote on Measure V. The District includes the following zip codes: 93908, 93920, 93921, 93923, 93924, 93927, 93933, 93940, 93943, 93944, 93950, 93953, 93955.
When can I vote on Measure V?
Measure V is on he November 3, 2020 ballot. Whether or not you normally vote at the polls, all voters will get a ballot in the mail the week of October 5.
What level of support does Measure V need to pass?
Measure V needs to be supported by 55% of those who vote on it in order for it to pass.
How can I register to vote or learn more about voting?
You can register to vote at www.registertovote.ca.gov. To find out more about voting in this election, please contact the Monterey County Elections Department at (831) 796-1499.
How can I learn more about the measure?
Please visit our website at www.mpc.edu/measurev to learn more. You can also contact Kristin Darken at kdarken@mpc.edu or (831) 521-4583 with any feedback or questions.