Chancellor's Statement on Measure H Bond Funding Allocation
February 13, 2025
Dear San Mateo County Community,
I have recently been asked by members of the community and elected officials whether our district diverted Measure H bond funds from Skyline College to build the Cañada College Athletic Center during the implementation of Measure H construction on our campuses.
Here’s my short answer: No. Measure H funds were not diverted from Skyline College to Cañada College. If you care to know the details, please read on.
I. Three bonds over 20 years allocated fairly across our three colleges
During the past two decades, the voters of San Mateo County have generously passed three bonds (Measures C, A, and H) supporting San Mateo County Community College District (SMCCCD), totaling just over $1.12 billion. Measure H bond funds, like all funds from previous Measures C and A, were allocated and distributed according to carefully developed facilities plans that were created to benefit all three colleges in our district equitably over the long term, and with continuous oversight from Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committees and approval from our Board of Trustees.
Below is a breakdown of the $1.12 billion from the three districtwide bond measures, highlighting the fair distribution of funds between the colleges. Note that districtwide funded projects benefit all three campuses and include energy, emergency, and technology infrastructure.
|
Cañada College |
$308,296,414 |
27% |
|
College of San Mateo |
$368,971,662 |
33% |
|
Skyline College |
$305,685,931 |
27% |
|
Districtwide |
$141,309,288 |
13% |
|
Total |
$1,124,263,295 |
100% |
II. Skyline College Athletic Center was excluded from the 2014 Measure H Bond, but there is renewed interest in its development
Before Measure H went to the voters, the Board of Trustees (during its July 9, 2014, Board of Trustees meeting ) discussed Measure H and approved the proposed projects. Two packages were presented at that meeting: A $477 million option that included an athletic center at Skyline College and a $388 million option that excluded an athletic center at Skyline College. The board decided to move forward with the $388 million option, thus dashing any hopes to build an athletic center at Skyline College with Measure H funding.
Today, however, our Board of Trustees is dedicated to exploring all available opportunities in the coming years to fund the modernization needs that remain at each of the three campuses, and will, once again, consider turning the long-standing vision of an athletic center at Skyline College into a reality.
III. All Measure H Bond expenditures are subject to Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee oversight
Measure H is nearly spent, and we are pleased to report that our Measure H Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee’s recent 2023-24 Annual Report concluded, once again, that our expenditure of bond proceeds complied with the law. I encourage everyone to visit the Measure H Bond Oversight Committee website to learn more about Measure H bond projects and review the annual reports for all three bond measures.
As always, please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about our past bond measures, funding allocations, or any other district-related matters. As stewards of the public trust, we are committed to transparency and accountability in ensuring that every dollar of our public funds is used efficiently and effectively to support the success of our students.
Thank you for your ongoing support of our students.
Sincerely,
Melissa Moreno, J.D.
Chancellor
San Mateo County Community College District