Taxpayers May Receive Millions from Surplus in Community College Fund

The Pasadena Area Community College District is expected to have millions of surplus dollars left unallocated from the $150 million general obligation bond for facility repair and rehabilitation approved in 2002.

The majority of the fund has been spent as planned for major projects, including Pasadena City College’s Center for the Arts building and parking structures, the PCC Courier reported.

The District still has about $15 million remaining fund, which Senior Vice-President and Assistant Superintendent Robert Miller proposed to be used to complete 15 smaller projects. Miller points to classroom conversion, restroom upgrades, dental classroom expansion, walkways and lighting rehabilitation and math center renovations.

About $4.4 million in surplus is still projected to remain after all the projects are completed. The Board of Trustees has discussed the possibility that this surplus would be returned to the taxpayers, Superintendent and PCC President Mark Rocha said.

“One option presented to the board in the past was to take the $15 million and essentially return it to the taxpayer,” Rocha told the Courier. “There is a principle involved here. This is the taxpayer’s money. If we do have some money left over we should return it to the people that voted and supported the bond measure.”

Another option is to undertake more projects that would benefit the students, Rocha said.

“On the other hand the taxpayer also voted to support students and they might say don’t return the money, take care of the students,” Rocha told the newspaper.

The Board of Trustees is yet to approve the options for the excess funds and the subject remains in the discussion stage.