PD Editorial: Yes on H: Help upgrade, invest in SRJC

Santa Rosa Junior College has long been a source of pride for Sonoma County.

Remarkably, half of all high school graduates in the county rely on the SRJC in some way to extend their education. Adults depend on the college for continuing education, for upgrading job skills and for lifelong learning. Students at Sonoma State University and at local high schools increasingly turn to the JC to plug gaps in their academic requirements, needs that aren’t being met at their current institutions.

Sonoma County residents showed their dedication to the Junior College through their strong approval of a $251 million bond measure in 2002, money that has been used to build an august new library and a student center, install all-weather sports fields, construct a culinary arts center on Mendocino Avenue, expand the Petaluma campus and complete other projects.

But given the patchwork of aging buildings on campus, more work is needed. Some structures date back to the 1950s and are in dire need of attention, including math and science buildings, the gymnasium, the Burbank Auditorium - home of the college’s respected theater arts program - and other buildings.

Students seeking to prepare themselves for a 21st century working world are often studying and doing research in crowded, mid-20th century environments with leaky roofs, insufficient ventilation systems and limited technological capabilities.

Given these realities, the university is asking voters once again to help by approving Measure H, a $410 million bond measure on the Nov. 4 ballot. We encourage voters to say yes.

Granted, it is a significant sum, the largest bond measure in the county’s history. But we believe it’s an honest assessment of the college’s infrastructure needs, one that presents an opportunity to bring the campus up to date and up to speed in creating modern learning environments.

The list of targeted projects to be funded by Measure H include an estimated $91 million to replace math and science facilities, $49 million to replace labs and classrooms in Barnett Hall, now 56 years old, and $74 million to upgrade technology throughout campus. The list also includes $10 million to modernize the Burbank Auditorium, $13 million to improve parking and safety and $18 million to upgrade heating, electrical and ventilation systems. (A complete list of proposed projects and estimated costs, is available at friendsofsrjc.org.)

Spread out over the entire county, the cost to local homeowners would be $25 per $100,000 of assessed value of local property. Although these values vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, the typical Sonoma County homeowner is projected to pay less than ?$70 per year.

Given how studies continually show quality educational institutions bolster local real estate values, it’s a modest increase. But more important, it’s a worthwhile investment in the future of Sonoma County, through modernizing educational opportunities for children and adults alike.

The Press Democrat recommends a yes vote on Measure H.