Measure AC Fact Sheet

Background:

For nearly 100 years, Long Beach City College (LBCC) has provided a high-quality, affordable college education and career training to hundreds of thousands of local students in Long Beach and across the southern California region.  The College exists to provide affordable access to the higher education and job training for college students and returning veterans seeking to advance in jobs and careers, prepare for transfer to 4-year colleges and universities, and compete for needed professions that meet regional workforce demands and help fuel our local and regional economy.

In particular, LBCC is where most of our local nurses, police, firefighters, and 911 emergency responders are trained.  LBCC is also a vital resource for local college students and veterans seeking affordable programs to help them compete for good-paying jobs or prepare to transfer to 4-year colleges or universities without facing crushing loan debt.  The College even invites local high school students get a jump start on college by taking courses while still in high school through the Long Beach College Promise Program.  LBCC also leads other innovative initiatives that expand opportunities for local residents to attend college, some of whom are the first members of their families to receive and experience a college education.

However, after decades of constant use, LBCC facilities have aged and need attention.  Outdated academic and job-training classrooms and labs need upgrading. Students with disabilities need better access. Deteriorated roofs, plumbing, heating, ventilating, and electrical system capacity need to be repaired or replaced. Energy efficiency, safety, and security systems require continual upgrading. Technology upgrades are also needed to keep pace with advancing workforce training needs.  Aging facilities inhibit instructional quality and job training that LBCC students need and the job market demands. 

If approved by local voters, Measure AC will help keep college affordable at LBCC by:

• Renovating vocational classrooms and labs, including for nursing and healthcare professions
• Upgrading clean drinking water systems and remove lead paint and asbestos
• Repairing deteriorated roofs, plumbing, sewer, gas and electrical lines
• Improving disabled student access and educational facilities supporting returning veterans
• Updating aging technology and campus safety
• Adding safe, stable, affordable housing for students in need while attending LBCC
• Investing in energy efficiency, water conservation and environmental sustainability
• Expanding classroom space for increasing Long Beach College Promise enrollment

Accountability and Transparency:

Accountability and taxpayer protections are REQUIRED.  All funds stay local, dedicated to LBCC. Public spending disclosure, annual audits, independent citizens’ oversight ensure funds are used as promised.

Election Day for Measure AC is Tuesday November 5, 2024

• Ballots will be mailed to local voters the week of October 7^th. 
• A “YES vote” on Measure AC supports the District’s bond proposal; a “NO vote” rejects the proposal. 
• All registered voters living within the Long Beach Community College District (including the communities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill and Avalon) will be eligible to vote on Measure AC.   
• To pass, Measure AC must secure fifty-five percent (55%) voter approval from the votes cast by voters voting on this measure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Measure AC?

Measure AC is a local college facilities bond measure on the November 5, 2024 Presidential ballot seeking voter authorization for Long Beach City College (LBCC) to complete needed repairs and upgrades to LBCC college facilities.  All registered voters living within the Long Beach Community College District (including the communities of Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill and Avalon) will be eligible to vote on Measure AC.   To pass, Measure AC must secure fifty-five percent (55%) voter approval from the votes cast by voters voting on this measure.  A “YES vote” supports approving funding for the District’s plan to improve Long Beach City College facilities; a “NO vote” rejects approving funding for the District’s LBCC facilities improvement plan. 

Why has Long Beach Community College District placed Measure AC on the ballot?

As California’s public university costs have risen to at least six times that of attending a community college, this year over 35,000 local students are turning to LBCC for an affordable higher education. LBCC students are counting on their college to help them prepare to land critically needed, good-paying jobs or transfer to 4-year colleges and universities. However, LBCC is aging.  Behind the well-maintained building facades are deteriorating facilities needing serious attention.  Subject to constant use by students and staff, many suffer from leaky roofs, unreliable plumbing, electrical, gas and sewer lines, outdated security systems and obsolete technology that make them challenging and expensive to operate.  Aging, inadequate classrooms and labs negatively impact educational quality, job training, career advancement and ongoing college classes.  Passage of Measure AC would provide locally controlled funding to complete needed facilities upgrades.

What is the actual Measure AC question that voters will be asked to decide?

“LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT AFFORDABLE EDUCATION, CLASSROOM REPAIR, CAREER AND FIRST RESPONDER TRAINING IMPROVEMENT MEASURE.  To renovate labs, nursing/vocational/job training classrooms; remove asbestos/mold; upgrade clean drinking water systems, electrical/sewer lines, infrastructure; improve safety/security; repair, construct, acquire educational facilities, sites, technology shall Long Beach Community College District’s measure authorizing $990,000,000 in bonds at legal rates be adopted, levying $25 per $100,000 of assessed valuation, generating $55,000,000 annually while bonds are outstanding, requiring audits, oversight, all funds used locally?”

How will Measure AC funds be used?

If approved by local voters, Measure AC would improve LBCC facilities by:

·       Renovating vocational classrooms and labs, including for nursing and healthcare professions

·       Upgrading clean drinking water systems and removing lead paint and asbestos

·       Repairing deteriorated roofs, plumbing, sewer, gas and electrical lines

·       Improving disabled student access and educational facilities supporting returning veterans

·       Updating aging technology and campus safety

·       Adding safe, stable, affordable housing for students in need while attending LBCC

·       Investing in energy efficiency, water conservation and environmental sustainability

·       Expanding classroom space for increasing Long Beach College Promise enrollment

Will Measure AC improve instruction and job training at the College?

Pending voter approval of Measure AC, LBCC would be able to update aging academic and job-training classrooms and labs for nursing, science, technology and engineering disciplines. Deteriorated roofs, plumbing, HVAC, heating, ventilation and electrical system capacity would be repaired or replaced. Better facilities and technology improve the quality of teaching, learning and training for jobs in our increasingly technical, global economy.  Modern classrooms and labs that employ the latest learning technologies can help students better prepare for jobs and transfer to four-year colleges and universities.

What will Measure AC cost?

If approved by local voters, the $990M bond would cost local property owners $25 per year for every $100,000 of assessed valuation on property they own within LBCC district boundaries. The assessed valuation refers to taxable value, not the market value of your property. The taxable value of your home or business will depend on when you purchased it. If Measure AC passes, the typical homeowner in the district would pay about $109 a year.

Will businesses share in the cost of Measure AC?

Yes, both commercial and residential property owners would be subject to assessment.

How can we be assured that Measure AC funds will be spent properly?

Measure AC REQUIRES establishment of an Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee within 60 days after a successful election result is certified. The Citizens’ Oversight Committee would be responsible for reviewing bond expenditures and reporting to the public to ensure that the money is spent as promised. Measure AC includes additional legally required taxpayer safeguards that prohibit the use of the funds for operations, administrator salaries or pensions, and also requires independent performance and financial audits and regular public reporting on use of bond proceeds.

What about ongoing maintenance? Doesn’t the District have a budget for that?

Yes. The District maintenance and operations staff work hard to keep LBCC campuses safe and well-maintained. The current scope of needs – including repairing roofs, health and safety improvements such as replacing aging, deteriorated building systems and installing seismic improvements, removal of hazardous materials, upgrades to job training, nursing, science and technology facilities –  consists of capital projects whose costs far exceed the District’s state-allocated allotment for campus facilities maintenance.

If voters approve Measure AC, when will the work begin?

If voters approve Measure AC, the District would focus its efforts first on the most critical facilities and technology needs. Safety and emergency preparedness upgrades are high priorities. A schedule for funding the projects would be developed so that projects can be completed on time and within budget.

What about Lottery funds to help cover construction costs?

The money that the District receives from the Lottery each year comprises less than 3% of the District’s annual General Fund Budget. Lottery funds cannot fund the extensive facilities upgrades that LBCC needs.

What kinds of jobs do LBCC graduates fill?

LBCC is where most of our local nurses, police, firefighters, and 911 emergency responders are trained.  LBCC is a vital resource for local college students and veterans seeking real-world skills to compete for other good-paying jobs as well or preparing to transfer to 4-year colleges or universities without facing crushing loan debt.  Local high school students can get a jump start on college by taking LBCC courses while still in high school as part of the Long Beach College Promise Program.

Does LBCC have a plan to maximize the return on investment in Measure AC spending?

Yes. Earlier this year, the Governing Board of the Long Beach Community College District approved a comprehensive Facilities Master Plan that provides a detailed blueprint for completing needed facilities repairs, upgrades, improvements and new construction.

If voters approve Measure AC, when will the work begin?

If voters approve Measure AC, the District would focus on addressing the most critical facility needs first. A schedule for funding projects would be developed to complete projects on time and within budget.

What is required for Measure AC to pass?

At least 55% of the voters who cast their ballots in the November 5th Presidential Election must vote in favor of Measure AC for it to be approved. Measure AC is being sought under the provisions of State Proposition 39, which prohibits use of the funds for operations, administrator salaries, or pensions and also requires annual independent financial and performance audits and citizens’ oversight of the use of bond proceeds.

Who is eligible to vote on Measure AC?                            

All of the nearly 305,000 registered voters within the boundaries of the Long Beach Community College District will be eligible to cast ballots and help decide the fate of Measure AC.  Election Day for Measure AC is November 5, 2024.  The last day to register to vote is October 21st 2024.

Resolution 080724A, Exhibit A Project List, Tax Rate Statement

Click on this link for more details on the Resolution 080724A, Exhibit A Project List, Tax Rate Statement