College district to pursue bond

Deirdre Newman

COSTA MESA -- The Coast Community College District is continuing to

proceed with the option of placing a multimillion-dollar improvement bond

on the November ballot, even as the clock ticks on getting it done.

The decision is based on preliminary survey results, released Friday,

that show 72% of likely voters would support a $344-million bond if the

election were held today.Trustees also decided Friday to discuss at their

next meeting the possibility of hiring a consultant to further study the

bond endeavor.

If hired, a consultant would be entrusted with the task of deciding

how much of a bond the community would be able to stomach, prioritizing

the improvement projects the bond would pay for and, most importantly,

ensuring community support remains high.

Although trustees are under a time constraint if they want to place

the bond on the November ballot -- they have been told by consultants

that they are four months behind schedule -- they are taking their time

to test the public waters before diving in.

“We need to do due diligence,” trustee George Brown said. “One poll is

not going to do it.”

The bond would fund a laundry list of improvements over 20 years on

each of the three campuses -- Orange Coast, Golden West and Coastline --

such as updating wiring in classrooms and fixing boiler rooms, and

heating and air-conditioning systems.

Trustees agree there is a need for the bond, especially because of the

severe budget deficit facing the state.

The survey asked more than 700 likely voters their opinion about the

bond in general and more specific questions about what they would like to

see the bond pay for. The survey cost the district about $33,000.

Hiring a consultant to continue exploring the issue would cost about

another $25,000, said Walt Howald, the board’s president.

The board has until August to decide whether to place the bond on the

November ballot. If they opt to, a campaign committee would take over

that would need to raise about $350,000, according to four consultants

the board is considering.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .