Questions and Answers About Measure CC

What is Measure CC?

Measure CC, on the March 2, 2004, ballot is a local facilities bond measure to provide $210 million to address the urgent and critical needs of Cerritos College. Measure CC will fund the repair and renovation of aging facilities and construct new facilities to relieve overcrowding and meet the demands due projected growth in student enrollment.

Why is Measure CC needed?

Many of the classrooms, labs, and infrastructure systems (roofs, plumbing, electrical, heating, and sewer) on the Cerritos College campus are nearly 50 years old. Deterioration due to age and decades of heavy use must be addressed to ensure safe and appropriate facilities for our students. Measure CC will address the most urgent repairs and renovations needed to make our classrooms safe and capable of supporting current and future educational needs. 

Measure CC will also provide for construction of new classrooms, science and technology labs, parking and student support facilities to relieve overcrowding and accommodate our region’s growing student population. Cerritos College, like others in California, has seen phenomenal growth in student enrollment. It has become all too common for students attending Cerritos College to be turned away from classes they need to transfer in a timely manner to four-year colleges. Job training programs, critical to the vitality of our local workforce and economy are unable to accommodate the number of students wanting to attend. There simply aren’t enough classrooms and labs to meet demand.

What specific improvements will Measure CC fund?

Facilities improvements to be funded by Measure CC were identified after months of diligent work by a facilities assessment team which included faculty and staff, students, independent facilities experts, and an advisory committee of community residents and business leaders.  The result of their work is a comprehensive and cost-conscious facilities master plan. The Cerritos Educational and Facilities Master Plan adopted addresses the repair and renovation of aging facilities and the construction of additional classrooms, labs, parking and other instructional facilities to relieve overcrowding and accommodate future enrollment demands.

WillCerritos College be able to accommodate future enrollment demands?

No, not without Measure CC. Classrooms and other facilities are already overcrowded, with many job training programs and college transfer classes unable to accommodate the number qualified students wishing to enroll. Vital programs in the sciences, nursing, and public health continually turn qualified students away. Students preparing for transfer to four-year colleges and universities are unable to gain access to classes needed to graduate on time.

Why is our local community college so important?

• 60% of all students attending the University of California and the California State University systems began their higher education by attending a community college.
• Community colleges offer local students of all ages the chance to succeed: they are this generation’s version of the GI Bill. Cerritos College offers residents a chance to improve their job skills and increase career opportunities by providing important job training and workforce preparation programs.
• Cerritos provides critical programs in nursing, physical therapy, public health, and teacher preparation – programs that are vital to the health, safety, and well being of our community. The college works with local business to improve employee workforce preparation
• Recognized for outstanding technology programs, Cerritos College prepares students for high-skilled, better-paying jobs requiring knowledge of advanced technology.

How did we get in this situation?

State funding consistently shortchanges California’s community colleges. Cerritos College receives less state funding per student than any other level of public education. During the past years, judicious repairs have been made to extend the useful life of classrooms, infrastructure and other facilities, but the repairs only provide temporary solutions to extensive problems caused by old, deteriorating, and overcrowded facilities. Additionally, qualifying for state facilities funds (when available) requires districts to provide local matching money. Without Measure CC, state bond money (our tax dollars), will only go to other districts.

What will Measure CC cost?

Passage of Measure CC will allow the Cerritos Community College District to issue $210 million in bonds – no small amount by any measure, but because of the size of our district, the impact on individual property owners will not to exceed $25 a year per $100,000 of assessed value or $2.08 per month per $100,000. Assessed value should not be confused with market value, which is typically much higher. The cost of Measure CC is tax deductible.

How can I be sure Measure CC funds will be spent wisely and as specified?

An independent Citizens Oversight Committee, comprised of local senior citizens, homeowners, taxpayers, among others must, by law, be appointed to monitor and publicly report on the expenditure of Measure CC funds, ensuring bonds are spent on facilities needs specified in the District’s Facilities Master Plan.  Also required by law are annual, independent financial and performance audits. Laws governing Measure CC prohibit spending any bond funds on administrators’ salaries. Measure CC funds remain in our community to benefit local students and residents, with not one cent going to Sacramento.