Question 1

What is Measure PCC and why is it necessary?

Accepted Answer

Measure PCC is a community college facilities improvement bond measure on the November 8, 2022, ballot that will provide locally controlled funding for Pasadena City College to upgrade aging facilities and maintain affordable, high-quality education for students in the west San Gabriel Valley.

Question 2

How does Pasadena City College serve the communities of the west San Gabriel Valley?

Accepted Answer

For 100 years, Pasadena City College has provided high-quality, affordable college education and career training for residents of all ages in Pasadena, Arcadia, Altadena, Temple City, South Pasadena, La Cañada Flintridge, Rosemead, San Marino and Sierra Madre. Offering a wide range of associate degrees, university-transfer courses, certificate programs and career and technical education, PCC provides affordable access to the education and job training students need to succeed and the skilled workers needed to fuel our local economy.

Question 3

What is the condition of Pasadena City College’s facilities?

Accepted Answer

Most of PCC’s facilities were built over 50 years ago and are in need of repairs and upgrades. In addition to making basic repairs such as fixing leaky roofs, replacing old rusty plumbing and faulty electrical systems, there is a clear need to upgrade classrooms, instructional technology and career training facilities to better prepare students for in-demand jobs in science, healthcare, nursing, engineering and skilled trades.

Question 4

Why are community colleges like Pasadena City College so important?

Accepted Answer

With the rising cost of four-year college, many students are turning to community college for local higher education at a fraction of the cost of Cal State, University of California (UC) and private universities. This requires providing up to date classrooms, labs and technology to meet the growing demand for education to help students complete the first two years of college affordably and transfer to Cal State or UC systems, and job and trade skills training programs for students entering careers.

Question 5

Do many local high school students attend PCC? Do many of them transfer to Cal State and UC schools?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Each year thousands of local high school graduates rely on PCC for affordable access to higher education and job training. PCC delivers the greatest number of transfer students to Cal State and UC among all community colleges in California. The College’s satellite campuses bring these benefits to residents throughout the west San Gabriel Valley.

Question 6

How will Measure PCC repair and upgrade college facilities?

Accepted Answer

Measure PCC provides locally controlled funding to upgrade local college classrooms, science labs and job training facilities to continue supporting affordable, quality higher education and career training local students rely upon. Voting YES on PCC will:Repair or replace leaky roofs, old rusty plumbing and faulty electrical systemsRemove hazardous materials like asbestos and lead pipesKeep computer systems and instructional technology up-to-dateUpgrade aging classrooms, labs, instructional technology and career-training facilities for science, engineering, math, technology and computer scienceImprove access for students with disabilitiesImprove energy efficiency and water conservationRetrofit older building to improve earthquake safety

Question 7

How can we be sure funding from Measure PCC will be spent properly?

Accepted Answer

Measure PCC includes a clear system of accountability, including:A project list detailing exactly how the funds must be usedA requirement that every penny raised must be spent locally to improve our local community college facilitiesA Citizens’ Oversight Committee and independent audits to ensure the funds are spent as promisedPublic disclosure of all spending is mandatoryNo funds from Measure PCC may be used for administrator salaries or benefits

Question 8

Does Pasadena City College have a detailed plan for the use of funds from Measure PCC?

Accepted Answer

Yes, PCC has worked with architects and educational facilities experts to carefully assess the condition of all college facilities. The PCC Board of Trustees has approved a detailed Facilities Master Plan that identifies the specific projects with cost estimates that would be completed if Measure PCC is approved by local voters. The Facilities Master Plan is available for review by visiting bit.ly/PCC-FMP.

Question 9

How much would Measure PCC cost?

Accepted Answer

Measure PCC will provide $565 million over 30 years in locally controlled funding for improvements to college facilities, or 2¢ per $100 of assessed (not market) value of properties.

Question 10

Are senior exemptions available for Measure PCC?

Accepted Answer

State law does not allow for any exemptions for bond measures. However, because the cost of the measure is based on the assessed value of properties, older homeowners who have owned their homes for a long time and have lower assessed values based on the original purchase price will pay the least.

Question 11

Do businesses contribute to the cost of Measure PCC?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all property owners contribute to the cost of Measure PCC. In fact, larger commercial and industrial properties with higher assessed values pay the most so that businesses pay their fair share of the cost to upgrade the college facilities that help train their workers.

Question 12

Is Measure PCC the only way to address college facilities needs?

Accepted Answer

Pasadena City College has very few options when it comes to repairing college facilities and modernizing classrooms, labs and career training facilities. The State provides very limited funding for improvements to community college facilities and the limited state funding that is available requires local matching funds. Measure PCC provides the locally controlled funding that is needed to upgrade local college facilities to continue providing high-quality education to local students for job training and university transfer. Measure PCC will provide the local matching funds needed to access PCC’s fair share of state matching funds.

Question 13

Could the State take away these funds?

Accepted Answer

No. Every penny from Measure PCC will stay local to support Pasadena City College. None of the funds can be taken away by the State.

Question 14

Will Measure PCC help Pasadena City College access state matching funds?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Measure PCC will provide the local matching funds needed to qualify for state funding for facility upgrades. Without Measure PCC these state funds will go to improve schools and colleges serving other communities. This will help PCC complete more facility improvements at a lower cost to local property owners.

Question 15

How does Pasadena City College contribute to our local economy?

Accepted Answer

Expert studies estimate that PCC adds over $600 million in income to the economy of the west San Gabriel Valley. This is approximately equal to 2% of the region’s total gross regional product (GRP). PCC’s impact supports approximately 6,000 local jobs or approximately one out of every 54 jobs in the area.

Question 16

How does PCC help contribute to the health and safety of the local community?

Accepted Answer

By providing affordable access to education and job training for local firefighters, paramedics, police officers, nurses and other healthcare professionals, Pasadena City College helps to keep our community safe and healthy.

Question 17

What level of support is required for Measure PCC to pass?

Accepted Answer

At least 55% of those voters who cast a ballot on the measure must vote “Yes” for it to be approved.