Cerro Coso Measure on November Ballot

The Kern Community College District Board of Trustees voted Thursday to place a local education bond measure on the November 8, 2016 ballot for voters’ consideration. The measure, if approved by voters, would provide local funding to repair and upgrade classrooms and facilities at Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso Community College, and Porterville College.

“More and more local students and veterans are relying on Bakersfield, Cerro Coso, and Porterville colleges,” said Kern Community College District Chancellor Sandra Serrano. “Repair and upgrades are needed to make sure Bakersfield, Cerro Coso, and Porterville colleges can continue to provide local students, including veterans, with access to the quality, affordable education and job training they need to transfer to universities and compete for good-paying jobs.”

A recently commissioned independent community survey of residents in the Kern Community College District shows residents are highly interested in providing bond funding to repair and upgrade Bakersfield, Cerro Coso, and Porterville colleges. Up to 71% of respondents indicated they were interested in the local education bond funding measure in November 2016. The survey was conducted June 30–July 3 by the highly respected opinion research firm of Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates.

“Thousands of military veterans, many of whom have recently returned from war zones and face challenges, rely on Bakersfield, Cerro Coso, and Porterville colleges to reintegrate with their education and careers,” added Chancellor Serrano. If approved by voters, the measure would upgrade and expand veteran services and job training so they can complete their education and re-enter the civilian workforce.

The measure, if approved by voters, would also help repair aging buildings, classrooms, and science labs; provide job training equipment and address urgent and basic repairs to Bakersfield, Cerro Coso, and Porterville colleges. The proposed measure requires strict fiscal accountability including independent annual financial audits and fund monitoring by an independent citizens’ oversight committee.