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# SMC considers $295M bond measure
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/smc-considers-295m-bond-measure/
- Published: 2008-05-15T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T19:36:39.000Z
- Author: Kevin Herrera
- Tags: Education, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Survey shows strong support for SMC bond*

SMC Looking to remain competitive in the local educational scene and upgrade outdated structures damaged in the Long Beach and Northridge earthquakes, Santa Monica College trustees have begun the long process of updating their facilities master plan, which could include a $295 million bond measure in November.

Among the projects to be added to the planning document are a new math and sciences building on the Main Campus ($40 million from the state has already been secured for this project), upgrading stands at Corsair Field, home to both the SMC and Santa Monica High School football teams, and expanding the Academy of Entertainment and Technology, located in the heart of Santa Monica’s media and entertainment district.

“The last time we adopted a \[facilities master plan\] was 10 years ago and we’ve done a lot of planning since then,” said Don Girard, senior director of government relations and institutional communications. “This is meant to bring projects into the document and make some adjustments that will be supported by the community.”

That could prove to be a challenge as voters become more concerned about property values and the rising cost of everyday goods and services. Voters will most likely be asked to approve a bond measure this fall, the third time a bond or parcel tax has appeared on a ballot in the last six years.

In 2002, voters approved Measure U, which raised $160 million.In 2004 it was Measure S at $135 million. For the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, voters in 1998 approved Proposition X for $42 million, Measure BB in 2006 for $268 million, and Measure R in 2007, which combined two existing parcel taxes generating roughly $10 million a year for area public schools.

Voters may be experiencing bond financing fatigue and will surely be more cautious about picking up the tab this time around.

“Voters in Santa Monica are extremely generous when it comes to education,whether it be the college or the school district, but it is a different time now and some people are concerned about real estate values and living expenses,” said Sharon Gilpin, a political consultant who has worked in city politics for the last 20 years.

“You can’t ignore the budget gloom in Sacramento,” Gilpin added.“People will have a critical eye and the college will really have to make its case as to why this is needed and why they need the money now. It’s a much tougher environment than it was just a few years ago.”

If approved in November, the $295 million bond would total $7.34 per month for an average homeowner or condo owner and about $1.12 per month for renters, according to SMC officials.

Residents living near the college have already expressed a reluctance to support another bond measure out of fear that it will lead to more construction and congestion in their neighborhoods.

Some have questioned why the residents of Santa Monica and Malibu should pay for the bond given that an overwhelming majority — more than 70 percent — of students attending SMC are not residents of those two cities.

“With the rising cost of gas, the rising cost of living, rising health care costs and the slow economy and housing market, I can think of many other ways I would rather spend my hard earned $7.34 per month that would ultimately benefit me and my community rather than just the community of SMC,” said Laura Thixton, a resident of Sunset Park who spoke out against the bond at a board meeting Monday.

“Enough is enough,”she added. Residents in Sunset Park, which bares the brunt of congestion from the college, said they are not against education or the mission of the college, but are simply concerned about their quality of life and would like to see efforts made to build facilities in other locations on the Westside that could better serve students who do not live in the area.

“All of my children went to SMC and Santa Monica schools. I voted for those bonds, certainly the first one,”said Lorraine Sanchez,who serves on the SMC bond oversight committee. “But at this point I think we are suffering from bond fatigue and building fatigue.”

The Main Campus has seen an increase in construction over the last five years, with the college adding a new theater and performing arts space, new library and humanities building. The construction is part of a three phase facilities master plan approved in 1998, Girard said.

Phase III is the modernization phase that includes projects that will assist SMC in preparing students for jobs of the 21st century and competing in a global economy, including improving the teaching of math, science and technology.

SMC officials will be hosting meetings over the coming months with residents and other community stakeholders to get their input on the facilities master plan.

The college has in the past been good at explaining in detail why bond measures are needed and what they will pay for, Gilpin said. They’ll need to continue that trend if they hope to get the support of voters.

So far, officials feel confident that they are heading in the right direction. In March voters were interviewed to determine public opinion on a potential bond measure. All were registered voters of Santa Monica and Malibu and were likely to participate in the November election, Girard said.

Thirteen of the 15 focus group members and 68 percent of the 500 voters interviewed for a survey indicated that they would likely vote “yes” on a SMC bond measure in the amount of $295 million “to replace buildings, upgrade fire safety; construct and equip math and science laboratories; improve student training in science, technology, media, communications, computers, and emerging high-tech fields; achieve energy savings, complete earthquake repairs; with citizen’s oversight, annual performance and financial audits; and no funds for administration.”

Of those who participated in the survey, 85 percent rated the college as excellent or good in its performance, and 94 percent considered the college an important part of the community. Fifty-eight percent said that they or someone in their immediate family has attended the college and that 52 percent had been on the college campus within the past year to attend a class, lecture or other event. Fifteen percent said they are members of KCRW,the public radio station housed at SMC.

“Having a college in this community not only adds to the prestige of a location, but it affects our lifestyle by the types of community services we have,”said Chui Tsang, president of SMC.“It is something we treasure and addresses the core values we have as a community.”

With so much of the media focusing on negative stories regarding education,Tsang said SMC is an example of something positive. Programs are successful,helping young and old transition into the workforce.

“We are serving the community on so many levels,” Tsang said. “The community throughout the years has built a really first-rate college, maybe one of the best community colleges in the nation.For us it’s about how we can continue this outstanding mission.”

Another way to look at the college is its impact on property values. In the past, residents living near the college complained about crime and traffic,but now many who are in the market to sell their properties say the college has been a tremendous asset because of its facilities, such as the Swim Center, said Kate Bransfield, a realtor with Coldwell Banker in Santa Monica.

“More and more I have clients that feel (the college) is a real positive,”Bransfield said.

For those who are on the fence, Girard said he has been telling them that the best thing about investing in the college is that the money spent remains in the community. Facilities built with bond money become a part of the community. Girard said residents must also remember that they pay a very small portion of the cost of operating the college, around 7 or 10 percent. The rest comes from student fees and other sources.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 15, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/051508.pdf?ref=smdp.com)