Napa Valley College seeks $178 million for major upgrade

By JILLIAN JONES
Register Staff Writer

Five years and $133.8 million later, Napa Valley College is seeking a second school bond in the sum of $178.4 million.

Reeling from what NVC President Dr. Chris McCarthy calls unprecedented construction costs and emerging community needs, the Napa Valley College board of trustees voted unanimously this week to place a $178.4 million bond measure for campus facilities and upgrades on the Feb. 5 presidential primary ballot.

The decision comes five years after voters approved a $133.8 million school bond for the college. Due to inflation and rising construction costs, said McCarthy, the college was unable to cover the costs of approved projects with the $133.8 million alone.

If approved, the school bond would budget $115 million for projects already approved by voters in 2002, for which the previous bond fell $70 million short in “today’s dollars,” said McCarthy. The remaining $63 million would fund new projects.

“What cost a dollar in 2002 now costs $1.64,” he said. “We’ve been asked to gear up programs to meet new career needs. Technology is changing fast. If we want to keep current with what the community needs, we require additional funds.”

Said McCarthy, “Rising construction costs and the need to develop new programs aimed at emerging career fields have led us, like many other community colleges, to look to our community for support. Community support is vital to preparing the college for coming generations of students. That is why this bond is necessary.”

Priority bond projects include expanding facilities for the college’s nursing program, expanding the solar electric generating system, repairing and modernizing aging campus buildings, upgrading electrical systems and wiring for computer technology and Internet access, expanding facilities to accommodate growing enrollment, improving classrooms at the Upper Valley Campus and extending educational resources to American Canyon.

“This effort is designed to provide educational facilities that will ensure that our students have safe and modern classrooms, up-to-date technology and facilities that can house emerging job training and educational programs,” said McCarthy.

In voting to put the bond measure on the ballot, Charles Meng, the longest-serving member of the college board who also serves on the statewide board of California Community College Trustees, said, “The Napa Valley College board of trustees has an obligation to present to our residents the opportunity to decide the future of Napa Valley College. It would be wrong to withhold it.”

NVC board President Michael Baldini said, “Education is a lifelong commitment. We are dedicated to the future of the valley and to supporting in every way possible the lifelong learning needs of its residents. The NVC board of trustees is unanimous in its wholehearted support of this bond measure.”

The bond contains taxpayer protections to ensure that bond funds are spent on voter-approved projects to improve Napa Valley College. No bond funds can be taken by the state or be spent on administrator salaries. If the measure passes, an independent citizens’ oversight committee will review all spending.

The bond would also make Napa Valley College eligible for millions of dollars in state matching funds. According to a press release issued Friday, the bond would cost homeowners no more than $19.85 per $100,000 of assessed valuation.

“We think it’s a very important question for the community to decide,” said McCarthy. “We’re putting the question before the community. If you want the college to be able to provide for community needs, ongoing community funding is needed.”

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