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October 26, 2004
Legend's View:
Prop. 401 means growth
Mesa Community College is predicting that in the near future the student population at MCC will be so high that the current buildings will not be large enough to accommodate the overflow of students.
On the Nov. 2 ballot a proposition (Prop 401), will issue (if passed) $951,359,000 in bond money to aid in the renovation and new construction of Maricopa Community Colleges, in order to accomodate future students.
The bond will be paid over a time span of 20 years, and the buildings that will be constructed will be completed within the next 10 years. With that fact in mind, voters are asking, “Why should I vote ‘yes’ on a proposition that will not benefit me?”
Yes, it is true that students presently attending Maricopa Community Colleges will not immediately benefit from the bond; but it will prove to help the credibility of the schools and the current student in the future.
From the money given to all the schools, MCC will receive $111 million, the largest amount among the schools. Glendale Community College comes in second with $105 million then Gateway Community College third with $98 million. Within MCC, the money will be divided into four different categories.
The Southern and Dobson campus will receive $60 million to build four new buildings, refurbish buildings that are 30 or more years old, upgrade and replace old technology, and provide additional parking and better security measures.
Red Mountain will receive $20 million to build three new classrooms and laboratory buildings.
Ten million dollars will be given over to produce the first stage of developing an MCC downtown campus to accommodate more students.
Twenty-one million is designated to promote technology to support the new construction as well as media equipment, and telecommunications data.
So, where will all this money come from? This increase in taxes will come from property taxes. For the owner of a $100,000 home, there will be an increase of about $15.83 per year.
In 1994, a bond similar to proposition 401 was passed, and MCC improved the school by building the library, adding a new science building, adding parking, refurbishing facilities, and improving technology.
So, who benefited from the monies passed in 1994? We do now. Not the class of ’95 or ’96, but the current students of MCC.
Just think about it. If the students of the class of ’94 had voted ‘no’ on the proposition, some current students might not be attending class today, or wouldn’t be able to do research on campus.
This proposition is not only about laying down new cement or fixing cracks in the walls; it is about maintaining the status and reputation of MCC. Students ten years ago made the right choice and provided future students with the opportunity to attend a college without the fear of being turned away.
The class of 2005 should do the same thing, and think about future students and whether or not those students will have the opportunity to obtain an education.
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