Completion and occupancy of the proposed San Benito Education Center has been pushed out to fiscal year 2020-21, according to the last Gavilan Community College Five-Year Capital Outlay Plan. However, for that to happen the district will have to get the state to pony up 100 percent of site development and facilities funding, $24.3 million. That estimated cost has increased $9.2 million (62%) from the plan costs of only four years ago. The San Benito County cost increase outpaces the other ballooning Gavilan projects over the same period; the Coyote Valley project cost estimate – not including the latest $17 million lease scheme – increased $6.9 million (40%), the Theater Replacement Project increased $2.8 million (16%), and the Library/Media Remodel increased $2.9 million (21%).
Without the use of a Voluntary Local Contribution (matching funds promised on the 2004 bond measure), the district has only a small chance of receiving approval for any of six state-funded project requests now totaling more than $99 million. The State Board adopted a capital outlay priority plan that emphasizes a “least cost to the state” policy. In the 2014-2015 plan, 70 of 83 (84%) state-funded projects had a local contribution. Hence, significant cost increases and lack of matching funds will make Gavilan’s state funding unlikely.
This situation impacts more than just the proposed San Benito Center. Coyote Valley is now out to a 2020-21 occupancy and is also in direct funding competition with San Benito. The Theater Replacement is out to a 2020. Worse, the board quietly withdrew the 50 percent matching funds from the Library/Media Remodel that is now out to a 2021 occupancy, but only if the state will pick up the entire $16.7 million bill.
Where is all the money from the $108 million in bonds and $5 million in investment returns and interest? Slightly less than $30 million remains in the hands of the board, but they have so far refused to commit it to matching for San Benito County; instead, they are proposing to divert up to $17 million for a special project in Coyote Valley that was not on the ballot as required by Proposition 39.
About $30 million is tied up in excess land they did not need – more than $20 million in Coyote Valley and perhaps $10 million in San Benito County. There was never a need nor legitimate justification for an extensive campus in southeast Hollister; the almost $10 million cost for the current property would have purchased the old Leatherback site close to the city center with perhaps $8 million left over for facilities or to act as a match to leverage state funding. It should be running now, not in 2020 at the earliest.
The students who stop commuting from San Benito County to Gavilan College would have cleared enough space there to negate any need for Coyote Valley. This would have saved $33 million of state and local funds under the old budget or $61 million as plans stand this minute – assuming we cannot stop the proposed misuse of Measure E funds.
This November there is a good chance there will a California Public Education Facilities Bond on the statewide ballot, but before you fall for the line that your vote is required to get these projects done, keep this in mind: It won’t help if you allow your money to be mismanaged by the same people who have done such a bad job of planning and spending so far.
