Why Support the Bond?
Vote YES on Prop 430, the Pima Community College bond, to restore crucial funding for our local community colleges. Because the state legislature hasn’t provided regular funding to the college for over a decade, resulting in the loss of over $228 million, and now the federal government is cutting funding for specialty programs - local funding is necessary to support PCC.
The bond will be used to keep PCC a national leader in training Emergency Medical Technicians, expand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math facilities - training graduates for the jobs of the future, modernize 1970s-era infrastructure by upgrading aging IT, electrical, roofing, heating, and cooling systems, and allow the college to refinance its current debt at lower rates and pay less in interest, freeing up $4 million annually for student programs.
Prop 430 Supports:
Modernizing Aging Infrastructure
The bond will fund updates to Pima Community College’s 1970’s-era facilities, upgrading aging infrastructure like old classrooms, IT, electrical, plumbing, roofing, heating and cooling systems. This is of particular importance because the state eliminated capital aid in 2009 and the longer we defer maintenance, the more costs increase.
Preparing Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Good Jobs
The bond will fund many programs tailored to prepare students for careers in Southern Arizona. It will maintain PCC’s status as a national leader in training Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and other first responders, expand science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning spaces so students and community members can access hands-on, real-world science and engineering experiences, and create a modern Center of Excellence in Education to train and support the next generation of school teachers.
Low Tuition & A Strong Future
Pima Community College is one of the most affordable two-year colleges in the country. It makes education affordable for many Pima families, no matter what they look like or what part of the county they live in. Passing this ballot question allows the college to refinance its current debt at better rates and pay less in interest, freeing up $4 million annually for student programs. This helps ensure all students can afford to go to community college by allowing the college to spread out costs over time so they can keep tuition low.Compared to 2020, tuition at PCC has increased by only $2.50 per credit hour, even as prices have skyrocketed everywhere else.
Community Safety
The bond will allow PCC to relocate the College Police Headquarters to the downtown campus to strengthen safety and reduce response times for students, employees, and the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, its expanded first responder programs will train the next generation of EMTs, firefighters, and healthcare workers for Southern Arizona.
Financial Accountability
The way this ballot question is written ensures that the funding can only go towards the projects listed. Spending will also be overseen by an independent committee of community members ensuring transparency and accountability for taxpayers and to ensure real progress for the college, its students, and Pima County at-large.
View the full list of projects which the bond will fund on
PCC’s website.
The PCC bond strengthens southern Arizona and ensures students graduate equipped to compete for good jobs at higher wages, ready to contribute to our economy. This November support Pima Community College with a bond for the first time in 30 years.