Frequently Asked Questions
Chaffey College is in San Bernardino County and serves students in Rancho Cucamonga, Chino, Chino Hills, Fontana, Montclair, Ontario and Upland as well as Mt. Baldy and Guasti areas. Chaffey College has campuses in Rancho Cucamonga, Chino and Fontana and serves four school districts: Chaffey Joint Union High School District, the Chino Unified School District, the Fontana Unified School District and the Upland Unified School District.
Chaffey College provides high-quality, affordable higher education for local students, working adults and returning veterans. Chaffey College is an essential resource for students seeking a vocational education that provides the job training, technical knowledge and specialized skills to compete for good-paying, modern careers or jobs.
With the cost of attending California public universities more than six times that of community colleges, more and more local students and their families are relying on Chaffey College for affordable education. Chaffey College provides high-quality education that prepares students to transfer to Cal State, UC’s or private universities to complete their bachelor’s degrees. Chaffey College plays a crucial role in providing access to a quality education that many people would not be able to afford otherwise.
Chaffey College is an essential part of our local and regional economy. Chaffey College is an important resource for the community because it provides training for students who need higher-paying or skilled jobs. Chaffey College provides training to current and future nurses, firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians.
Many of Chaffey College’s classrooms, labs and other educational facilities were built almost 60 years ago and need basic health, safety and technology improvements. Removing asbestos and lead paint, repairing leaky roofs and deteriorating restroom plumbing, improving accessibility for people with disabilities, replacing outdated electrical and air-conditioning systems, and upgrading security and fire-safety ensures students can learn in safe, healthy classrooms.
A college facilities improvement Measure P would accomplish the following:
- Upgrade classrooms, labs and technology to help prepare students to transfer to four-year colleges and universities
- Repair deteriorating gas, electrical and sewer lines and fix leaky roofs
- Upgrade job training facilities for manufacturing and skilled trades and health occupations
- Improve student safety and security systems
- Remove asbestos, lead paint and mold
- Upgrade science, computer and technology labs
- Improve training facilities for nurses and emergency first responders
- Upgrade and expand facilities for veterans’ services and job training
The Chaffey College measure would provide up to $700 million in locally controlled funding for improvements to college facilities and cost property owners no more than $15 per $100,000 of assessed (not market) value of properties. The bond would be structured to maintain the same tax rate approved by voters in 2002.
The cost of Measure Ps is based on assessed value, not market value, of a property. Assessed values often are closer to the original purchase price of the property than to the current market price. This reduces the cost of a Measure P for seniors and others who have lived in their homes a long time.
Chaffey College receives funding from the State for operational costs like supporting strong instructional programs and teachers, but this does not provide sufficient funding needed for capital improvements to provide well-maintained, up-to-date classrooms and school facilities for all of our students. The little state funding that is available requires local matching funds; passing a measure would potentially qualify our district for matching funds from the State.
No. By law, no funds could be taken by the State, ensuring that all revenue from a Measure P would be spent locally.
Yes, our community has continued to support Chaffey College over the years. In 2002,
the residents of the Chaffey Community College District passed Measure L, providing
the college with $230 million. Voters approved a cost up to $25 per $100,000 of assessed
value. Due to smart financial management, Measure L only costs about $9 per $100,000
of assessed value, saving taxpayers millions of dollars. Measure L funds allowed the
college to build a new campus in Chino, construct new buildings and upgrade infrastructure
and many facilities on the Rancho Cucamonga campus and expand the Fontana Campus.
An independent citizens’ oversight committee and annual public audits have demonstrated
that funds have been spent as promised and projects were completed on time.
To learn more about the oversight committee, please visit the Chaffey College’s Citizens’ Oversight Committee website.
A Measure P requires strict fiscal accountability, including a citizens’ oversight committee and annual financial and performance audits. No money from this measure would go toward administrators’ salaries or pensions. Additionally, the Measure P would allow Chaffey College to qualify for state matching funds that would otherwise be lost to other communities.
The Chaffey Community College District Governing Board has placed a Measure P on the November 2018 ballot.
The District welcomes your comments and questions as it evaluates the needs of our local community college. Please contact localbond@chaffey.edu or call (909) 652-6170 if you would like to learn more about this Measure P.
