Frequently Asked Questions

  • For over 100 years, students from Carpinteria to Goleta have relied on Santa Barbara City College for the high-quality college education and career training needed to transfer to four-year universities and prepare for essential careers in nursing, healthcare, public safety, hospitality and skilled trades.

  • With the rising cost of four-year college, many students are turning to community college for local higher education at a fraction of the cost of Cal State, University of California (UC) and private universities. This requires providing up to date classrooms, labs and technology to meet the growing demand for education to help students complete the first two years of college affordably and transfer to Cal State or UC systems, and job and trade skills training programs for students entering careers.

  • Yes. Nearly 50% of local high school graduates rely on SBCC as an affordable access to higher education and job training. In fact, in 2023 SBCC ranked fourth among California community colleges for student transfers to the UC system.

  • Measure P is a community college facilities improvement measure on the November 5, 2024 ballot that will provide locally controlled funding for Santa Barbara City College to upgrade aging facilities and maintain affordable, high-quality education for students without increasing taxes.

  • While SBCC’s has served the community well for decades, most classrooms, labs and job training facilities were built over 60 years ago and need repairs and upgrades to meet current academic, building, and safety standards. Many have asbestos, lead, and do not meet current earthquake safety standards. Classrooms and labs need upgrades and repairs to better prepare students for in-demand jobs in science, healthcare, nursing, engineering and skilled trades.

  • Measure P provides locally controlled funding to upgrade local college classrooms, science labs and job training facilities to continue supporting affordable, quality higher education and career training local students rely upon. Voting YES on P will: 

    • Provide modern classrooms, science labs, and career training facilities to prepare students for in-demand careers in nursing, health sciences, engineering, and technology

    • Repair leaky roofs, deteriorating plumbing, gas lines and faulty electrical systems

    • Improve earthquake safety

    • Remove hazardous materials like asbestos and lead

    • Improve access for students with disabilities

  • Measure P includes a clear system of accountability, including: 

    • All funds must stay local to upgrade SBCC only and cannot be taken by the State

    • An independent oversight committee, annual audits, and public spending disclosure ensure funds are used as promised

  • No. Measure P would provide locally controlled funding to repair and upgrade SBCC facilities without increasing taxes. 

  • Measure P would provide $198 million in locally controlled funding to update SBCC classrooms and labs. Measure P would simply extend the current bond tax rate previously approved by voters of $8.50 per $100,000 of assessed (not market) value and would not increase taxes.

  • State law does not allow for any exemptions for bond measures. However, because the cost of the measure is based on the assessed value of properties, older homeowners who have owned their homes for a long time and have lower assessed values based on the original purchase price will pay the least.

  • Yes. All property owners contribute to the cost of Measure P. In fact, larger commercial and industrial properties with higher assessed values pay the most so that businesses pay their fair share of the cost to upgrade the college facilities that help train their workers.

  • Santa Barbara City College has very few options when it comes to repairing college facilities and modernizing classrooms, labs and career training facilities. The State provides very limited funding for improvements to community college facilities and the limited state funding that is available requires local matching funds. Measure P provides the locally controlled funding that is needed to upgrade local college facilities to continue providing high-quality education to local students for job training and university transfer. Measure P will provide the local matching funds needed to access SBCC’s fair share of state matching funds.

  • No. Every penny from Measure P will stay local to support Santa Barbara City College. None of the funds can be taken away by the State.

  • Yes, Measure P will provide the local matching funds needed to qualify for state funding for facility upgrades. Without Measure P these state funds will go to improve schools and colleges serving other communities. This will help SBCC complete more facility improvements at a lower cost to local property owners.

  • At least 55% of those voters who cast a ballot on the measure must vote “Yes” for Measure P to be approved.

  • To learn more about Measure P, you can visit SBCC.edu/MeasureP

  • To learn more, or to endorse, volunteer or donate, please visit YesonPforSBCC.com