Taxpayers group gives district a high grade for Proposition V transparency

Posted on: Sep 23, 2020 12:00:00 AM
In: District
Buildings and Facilities
Contact: Della Elliott della.elliott@gcccd.edu

The Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has received the highest grade granted to school and college districts by the San Diego County Taxpayers Education Foundation in its 2020 school bond transparency report.

The watchdog agency graded 25 school and college districts with school construction bond programs for their transparency in providing information to the public, including posting of meeting agendas and minutes, project descriptions, progress updates, and annual reports by citizens’ bond oversight committees. In all, 17 districts received an A-, the top grade issued by the taxpayer group, which noted scores were slightly lower this year, a trend it attributed to the distraction of the coronavirus pandemic and a shifting of priorities.

The college district was praised by the taxpayer foundation for its citizens bond oversite committee, which it described as highly successful for its transparency and one to be held up as a model. The district’s CBOC is a panel of East County residents with expertise in construction-related fields such as architecture, construction management, and accounting, as well as representatives of businesses, and student and taxpayer organizations.
“We take very seriously our obligation to keep the public informed about the expenditure of these voter-approved dollars,” Chancellor Lynn Neault said. “I want to thank our citizens bond oversight committee for their excellent work in ensuring we remain vigilant in our promise for transparency.”

The college district in past years has received spotless A-plus grades from the watchdog group, but this year, none of the 25 school and college districts met new requirements to pass a resolution on performance audits and to widen the scope of these audits to provide a greater voice to citizens’ oversight committees.

Proposition V, a $398 million bond measure, was approved by East County voters in 2012. Bond funds have enabled the district to continue the work on the college campuses that began after the 2002 passage of Prop. R, which resulted in the construction or renovation of 13 major facilities.

Recently completed Prop. V projects include a $ 44 million Performing and Visual Arts Center and $13.2 million Phase 1 of the Science Math and Career Technology complex at Grossmont College, and at Cuyamaca College, a $4.2 million Student Center and Veterans Services renovation, and $17 million renovation currently underway of the Ornamental Horticulture Complex and Building M.

Grossmont College Performing and Visual Arts Center

Cuyamaca College Student Center remodel