68,095 / 61.60% Yes votes ...... 42,446 / 38.40% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Approval of Measure E would authorize the El Camino Community College District ("District") to issue up to $394,516,464 in general obligation bonds.

Funds received from the sale of the bonds would be used only for the construction, rehabilitation and equipping of District facilities, or the acquisition or lease of real property for District facilities. No funds may be used for teacher or administrator salaries, or other school operating expenses.

As required by law, the Board of Trustees of the District ("Board of Trustees") has adopted a list of the specific school facilities projects to be funded by the sale of the bonds. The Board of Trustees will conduct annual, independent financial and performance audits to ensure that funds received from the sale of the bonds will have been expended only on the specific projects listed, and will appoint a citizen's oversight committee to inform the public on expenditures.

The bonds would be issued and sold at an interest rate not to exceed the maximum rate allowed by law, and would be repaid by a property tax levied upon real property located within the District over a period not to exceed forty (40) years. The tax rate levied as the result of approval of this Measure shall be no more than $25 per $100,000 of taxable property value within the District.

This Measure requires a fifty-five percent (55%) vote for passage.

NOTICE TO VOTERS

Approval of Measure E does not guarantee that the proposed project or projects in the El Camino Community College District that are the subject of bonds under Measure E will be funded beyond the local revenues generated by Measure E. The school district's proposal for the project or projects may assume the receipt of matching state funds, which could be subject to appropriation by the Legislature or approval of a statewide bond measure.

For more than 55 years, El Camino College has trained firefighters, police officers, nurses and generations of skilled professionals. To keep this important resource working for our community, aging classrooms and labs urgently need repairs, replacement or upgrading.

This is the first time the El Camino Community College District has asked the voters to support a bond measure. If the state bond passes, funding for community college construction will still be insufficient and will be allocated to colleges providing a local funding match.

Urgently needed repairs and improvements will cost less now than in the future. The bond will:

- Upgrade fire sprinklers and alarms

- Modernize math and computer labs for high-tech career training

- Update wiring for Internet access

- Provide up-to-date equipment for vocational training and general education

- Repair and replace decaying roofs, walls, sewer lines

- Remove hazardous materials

- Upgrade energy efficiency systems to save money

A Citizens Bond Oversight Committee will examine annual audits to ensure funds are spent appropriately and will report this information to the public. Membership must include a business person, taxpayer advocate and senior representative, among others.

By law, no bond funds may be used for salaries. Funds must be spent only on specified projects.

El Camino College provides an excellent education which prepares students for successful transfer to four-year universities. It consistently ranks among the top ten community colleges in transfers to the UC system and top three in transfers to USC. As universities become more expensive, El Camino College continues to provide an affordable, high-quality education to many students.

VOTE YES FOR BETTER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND TRAINING.

VOTE YES TO REPAIR AND IMPROVE EL CAMINO COLLEGE.

KATHLEEN P. HARREN, R.N.
Sr. V.P., Little Company of Mary Hospital

TRINI M. JIMENEZ, Esq.
Lennox School Board President, ECC Alumnus

HELEN NAKANO
Businesswoman, Torrance

WAYNE SPENCER
Past President, Chamber of Commerce, Inglewood

JAN VOGEL
Exec. Dir., South Bay Workforce Investment Board

El Camino's 2001-2002 Final Budget lists only $6,168,922 in needed capital outlay projects not funded in 2001-2002. And the Budget lists only $40,824,000 in capital outlay projects to be funded through 2006-2007. Why ask for $394 million when it far exceeds the College's budgeted need for capital outlay projects to be funded through 2006-07? Rejection of Measure E will, of course, not prevent El Camino from returning with a more modest bond request.

In times of deteriorating roads, cutbacks in hospital emergency room services and other pressing governmental needs Measure E is a bad investment of taxpayer dollars.

SAY NO to new taxes and wasteful spending!

VOTE NO on Measure E.

South Bay Taxpayers Association Committee Against the El Camino College Bond Measure

http://www.southbaytaxpayers.com
(310) 323-5802

FRANCES STIGLICH
Committee Member and resident of Hawthorne

BILL EISEN
Committee Treasurer and resident of Manhattan Beach

MIKE STEVENS
Committee Member and resident of Inglewood

ELIZABETH L. GARNHOLZ
Committee Member and resident of El Segundo

LAWRENCE BLACK
Committee Member and resident of Torrance

Bond money will be spent to:

1) Demolish Murdoch Stadium which is a beautiful facility rimmed with mature trees and in excellent condition.

2) Tear down and replace some of El Camino's attractive brick-clad buildings which are well maintained and which are also in excellent condition.

Don't be deceived by slick promotional brochures showing photos of rusted pipes and dirty sinks!

El Camino's facilities are not antiquated. To the contrary, the college is in excellent condition. According to the college's Master Plan, "El Camino College has an excess of building space when compared with state standards for community colleges". Plumbing and electrical upgrades, as well as new computers, will cost no where near the $394 million amount of the bond. $394 million is far in excess of any conceivable rational need that the college may have.

STOP unnecessary and wasteful spending!

VOTE NO on Measure E.

South Bay Taxpayers Association Committee Against the El Camino College Bond Measure

http://www.southbaytaxpayers.com
(310) 323-5802

FRANCES STIGLICH
Committee Member and resident of Hawthorne

BILL EISEN
Committee Treasurer and resident of Manhattan Beach

MIKE STEVENS
Committee Member and resident of Inglewood

ELIZABETH L. GARNHOLZ
Committee Member and resident of El Segundo

LAWRENCE BLACK
Committee Member and resident of Torrance

"The average homeowner will pay less than $34 per year to repair and improve this important community resource. That's less than the cost of one fast food meal every month to improve public safety and educational opportunities."

Stephen R. Port, Chief, Hawthorne Police Department

FACT:

"Repairs to aging facilities will cost less now than in the future. Most campus buildings are more than 40 years old. This is the first bond in the college's history # it's long overdue." Sandi Pfister, 2000 President, South Bay Association of Realtors

FACT:

"While beautiful on the outside, existing buildings are not energy efficient. Improving them now will reduce operating costs far into the future."

Charles Harkey, Business Owner, Inglewood Tickets

FACT:

"To train for tomorrow's careers, students need modern equipment. Our community relies on El Camino College to provide well-trained nurses, firefighters and police." J. R. Stroh, Former Chief, El Segundo Police Department

Murdoch Stadium is past its prime. It was built on imported soil which is now eroding. For safety # as well as improved access by individuals with disabilities # we must rebuild.

Out-of-date classrooms with health and safety needs are not `excess' # they are simply ready for replacement. Forty to fifty year old classrooms, laboratories, lecture halls and instructional space must be repaired and modernized.

VOTE YES ON MEASURE "E" TO REPAIR AND TO IMPROVE EL CAMINO COLLEGE.

JAN VOGEL
Exec. Dir., South Bay Workforce Investment Board

WAYNE SPENCER
Past President, Chamber of Commerce, Inglewood

TRINI M. JIMENEZ, Esq.
Lennox School Board President, ECC Alumnus

HELEN NAKANO
Businesswoman, Torrance

KATHLEEN P. HARREN, R.N.
Sr. V.P. Little Company of Mary Hospital

An election will be held in the El Camino Community College District on November 5, 2002 to authorize the sale of up to $394,516,464 in general obligation bonds of the District to finance the acquisition and improvement of real property. If such bonds are authorized and sold, the principal thereof and interest thereon will be payable from the proceeds of tax levies made upon the taxable property in the District. The following information is provided in compliance with Sections 9400-9404 of the Election Code of the State of California.

1. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the first sale of bonds based on a projection of future assessed valuations is $0.01889 per $100 of assessed valuation in Fiscal Year 2003-2004.

2. The best estimate of the tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue during the first fiscal year after the last sale of bonds if the bonds are sold in series, and an estimate of the fiscal year in which that rate will apply, based on a projection of future assessed valuations is $0.01889 per $100 of assessed valuation in Fiscal Year 2014-15.

3. The best estimate of the highest tax rate that would be required to be levied to fund the bond issue and an estimate of the fiscal year in which that rate will apply, based on a projection of future assessed valuations, is again $0.01889 per $100 of assessed valuation, which is projected to be the same in every fiscal year.

Attention of all voters is directed to the fact that the foregoing is based upon projections and estimates only, which are not binding upon the District. The actual tax rates and years in which they will apply may vary from those presently estimated, due to variations from these estimates in the timing of bond sales, the amount of bonds sold at any given sale, and the actual assessed valuation over the term of the repayment of the bonds. The actual time of sales of said bonds and the amount sold at any given time will be governed by the needs of the District and other factors (including market rate variations in the interest rate on general obligation bonds). Actual future assessed valuation will depend upon the amount and value of taxable property within the District as determined in the assessment and equalization process.

Dated 7-29-2002

"To prepare El Camino College students for jobs and four-year colleges; repair buildings, classrooms, science labs; upgrade earthquake/fire safety; repair sidewalks, leaky roofs, drainage/water pipes; upgrade wiring/equipment for computer technology; enhance nursing/firefighter training; construct, acquire, and equip modern classrooms/buildings; improve campus security, shall El Camino Community College District issue $394,516,464 of bonds at legal rates, appoint a Citizens Oversight Committee and perform annual audits to ensure no money is used for administrators' salaries?"

The Board of Trustees of the El Camino Community College District has evaluated safety, class size, and information technology and instructional needs in developing the scope of college facility projects to be funded as outlined in the District's Facilities Master Plan and Education Master Plan amended from time to time, on file at the District's Public Information Office.

PROJECTS

Additional Classrooms and Modernization $204,630,902
# Health Occupations and Wellness Center # Nursing and allied health care training facilities including classrooms, labs, lecture halls, clinical research/rehabilitation facilities for radiation technology, gerontology programs.
# Fire Academy Structure # Classroom space for firefighting training in Inglewood; safety/security improvements for fire truck storage.
# Vocational Training Center # Job training classrooms, labs, support space for refrigeration, air conditioning, welding and other technology careers.
# Business Training Center # High-tech administrative career training center, with individual learning systems for computer instruction, improved safety, accessibility.
# Science Complex Renovation # Replace 45-year-old classrooms and labs with modern instructional facilities; improve wiring for Internet use; improve accessibility.
# Physical Education & Fitness Complex # Replace aging instructional facilities with safe, modern facilities.
# Repair and replace 40- 50-year-old classrooms, laboratories, lecture halls and instructional space; improve lighting, wiring, internet access and energy efficiency.
# Improve safety, accessibility, electrical wiring. Install voice/data/signal site systems for classrooms, support technology.
# Energy efficiency upgrades and replacement for aging heating/ventilating/air conditioning/cooling systems.
# Remove barriers, improve access; add ramps, elevators, automatic doors.
# Improve student and staff support spaces.
# Acquire additional classroom/support space for educational centers.
# Add Technology Center to Learning Resource Library.
# Improve safety, accessibility along entrances to/from Manhattan Beach Boulevard, Crenshaw Boulevard, Redondo Beach Boulevard.
# Improve fire safety, alarm systems.

Health and Safety Upgrades $84,007,276
# Improve safety, security system; install improved locks, fire alarms, emergency lighting.
# Replace aged, deteriorated water service to fire lines.
# Replace natural gas lines for heating efficiency, safety.
# Replace sewer lines, plumbing systems, storm drains to control flooding and surface run-off.
# Modernize support service space, including cost-efficient reproduction center for instructional materials.
# Repair/replace restrooms, showers for women & men in physical education classrooms.
# Replace leaky roofs, decaying walls.
# Replace/repair fencing for safety and security.
# Remove hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead paint.
# Replace aging electrical systems, alarms and lighting to meet technology needs, improve safety and energy efficiency.

Energy Efficiency Improvements $16,819,098
# Repair/replace windows, coverings; motors; outside air economizer controls for Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation.
# Thermal storage, solar hot water for energy efficiency. Campus Site Improvements: Accessibility, Safety and Security $28,435,148
# Replace and upgrade outdoor lighting in all lots for safety and energy efficiency.
# Replace driveway and walkway paving for safety and accessibility; resurface asphalt for safety.
# Install pedestrian walks along Manhattan Beach Boulevard.
# Improve landscaping and irrigation for conservation.
# Repair/replace outdated warehouse, support space; remodel existing space for classroom use.
# Construct parking structures for improved safety, accessibility.
# Install emergency generators and electrical distribution systems for safety and efficiency; provide emergency power for emergency lighting.

Information Technology & Equipment $58,674,739
# High-tech instructional equipment for classrooms, labs in Nursing, Business, Math, Industry & Technology, general education and vocational programs.
# Upgrade computers, wiring and connections for instructional and support space.

Physical Education Facilities Improvements $1,949,301
# Repair/replace fields, pool, gymnasium, bleachers and instructional space for physical education classes.

The allocation of bond proceeds will be affected by the District's receipt of State matching funds and the final costs of each project. The budget for each project is an estimate and may be affected by factors beyond the District's control.