The state legislature hasn’t provided regular funding to the Pima Community College in over a decade, resulting in the loss of over $228 million dollars. And now the federal government is cutting funding for specialty programs too. That’s what necessitates a bond now - to prepare students for the jobs of the future, modernize aging infrastructure, and keep tuition low for students.

Prop 430, the Pima Community College bond measure, will raise $250 million to support PCC:

Modernize 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.

Career Ready Programs: The bond will fund programs to prepare students for good-paying careers, like the EMT and first responder program, expand STEM classrooms and the cyber and IT center, and create a new program to train and support the next generation of teachers.

Refinancing Old Debt: Prop 430 allows the college to refinance its current debt at better rates and pay less in interest, freeing up $4 million annually for student programs.

Keeping Tuition Low: Passing this ballot question will help the college spread out costs over time so they can keep tuition low so that more students can get on the ladder to success.

Campus 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.

This bond is expected to cost the average homeowner approximately $2.60 a month.

As Phoenix politicians continue to underfund Pima Community College, bonds like this are critical to allow PCC to meet students’ educational needs. Your support restores critical funding that politicians in DC and Phoenix can’t touch.

This funding will strengthen southern Arizona by ensuring students graduate equipped to compete for good jobs at higher wages, ready to contribute to our local economy. It will also support training the next generation of first responders, making our communities safer.

Because of funding cuts from the state and federal government, without this bond measure to fill in the gaps, Pima Community College will lack the resources needed to build new workforce training facilities, renovate older facilities, and address deferred maintenance as costs continue to increase in the future. PCC would likely need to consider additional tuition and property tax increases, as well as cuts to services to reduce costs.

This ballot question is written to ensure 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.

Since the state ceased providing regular funding for college operations and capital, Pima College sold its smallest campus (Community Campus) and moved out of leased facilities to consolidate operations onto the five main campuses to reduce costs and improve student access to services. 

When individuals have left the College to retire or take a job elsewhere, the College has restructured to continue the most essential job functions without filling the vacant positions.  In addition, the College has already modernized some of its heating, cooling, and lighting systems to improve energy efficiency, reducing utility costs. 

Using cost saving measures like these, the College reduced costs by $4 million just last year.

The detailed proposal for how bond funds are spent can be found on the College’s website.

The bond measure will be on the ballot this year for the November 3rd election. Early voting will begin on October 7th. 

To check the status of your ballot, visit https://www.recorder.pima.gov/BallotInfo