Community College Board to Consider Bond for College of the Desert

Palm Desert, CA – The Desert Community College District Board of Trustees is set to vote Wednesday on whether to place a $577 million bond on the November ballot, allowing for expansion, repairs, renovation, and modernization of facilities at College of the Desert's campuses.

Members of the public are invited to speak on the discussion and resolution, which will take place at the campus' Cravens Students Center Multi- Purpose Room.

The measure requires a 55 percent vote to be approved.

The bond money, which would be repaid through an increase to the property tax, would go towards rehabilitation of campus facilities, construction of new facilities and acquisition of property for additional facilities.

Some of the proposed rehabilitation projects would include modernization of the college's career training facilities, repairs at the college's satellite campuses and improvements to the main campus' Veterans Center, which provides job counseling, training and placement for returning veterans.

According to a proposed ballot measure statement, funds would not be used for teacher or administrator salaries, nor other college operating expenses.

A seven-member Independent Citizens' Oversight Committee would be established "to ensure bond proceeds are expended only for the community college facilities projects listed in the Bond Project List."

A two-thirds vote of the Board of Trustees is required to place the measure on the November ballot.

– By City News Service.