This is a developing story. Please check back later for future updates.

Measure V squeeks closer to passing

Updated 11/09/24 8:54 p.m.

The past two LA County results updates has seen Measure V making gains, now at 54.6% approval. However, more ballots with the bond may be sparse.

Mt. SAC’s $750 million ask has gained consistently on the opposition over the past few days. Around 225,000 ballots have been counted that voted for the measure so far.

Measure GO, Mt. SAC’s previous $750 million bond in the 2018 midterms, had a total of around 194,00 votes when certified.

Presidential elections, where Measure V falls in, tends to have more voter turnout than midterms across the nation, with Statista’s infographic showing recent decades have seen a 12% difference in voter turnout.

The LA County 2018 midterms had a total of 3 million votes while this election had 3.3 million ballots submitted — a 10% difference in voter turnout. The final count for Measure V would thus calculate to around 213,000 votes, more than 10,000 votes less than the current results. This may mean the count for Measure V may be close to done counting.

SAC Media will call this election on Nov. 26, the last public LA County update. The County will then certify the results on Dec. 3 according to officials familiar with the process.

Walnut residents reacts to Measure V

Updated 11/07/24 9:45 p.m.

Measure V was on the ballot for most of East San Gabriel Valley as the college serves the general area. Mt. SAC also resides in Walnut, where the majority of dissenting opinions on the 2024 voters guide came from.

One walnut asked why Mt. SAC is asking for 10 times as much money than immediately needed, as the bond asks for $750 million while the college needs $75 million to finish construction.

Another walnut resident asked for more transparency from Mt. SAC on the bonds they have received from the community. Many others echoed the sentiment too.

“We want a detailed itemization of spending to ensure no corruption and backdoor deals,” one commented. “It’s public money and we deserve to know or else they should stop asking for funding.”

Others say they are still paying Mt. SAC’s Measure GO bond that passed in 2018. This bond also asked for $750 million for construction and garnered 62% approval from voters

Mt. SAC President comments on Measure V

Updated 11/07/24 9:45 p.m.

As the election brought forth changes both in our country and state, Mt. SAC awaits the results of Measure V and determines the course of action if not passed.

Measure V was on the ballot this November as a proposed bond measure to allow a quarter of a billion dollars for construction projects to continue as the school suffers from a deficit of funds for their campus projects.

In a recent interview with Mt. SAC’s President Martha Garcia, there is more optimism than doubt regarding the measure. “I’m just really hopeful that within those votes that have not been counted, that ounce they are we are successful in securing that bond measure because it’s going to benefit our students if it doesn’t pass,” Garcia said.

If the measure does not pass, Mt. SAC will revert to a loan of $80 million to complete construction on a tech and health center aided by a state match to complete their projects Garcia said.

First Measure V count doesn’t garner required approval

Measure V only received a 53% approval rating out of the 55% needed to pass the $750 million bond to invest in the college’s ongoing construction endeavors.

This puts Mt. SAC in a precarious financial situation as the college is short $75 million for the ongoing construction of the Technology and Health building.

Touted as the biggest construction project in the history of California Community Colleges, it now sits as a hole in the center of the college’s campus and finances

President Martha Garcia said in a September interview by SAC Media that construction of the Tech and Health building will finish whether Measure V passes or not. However, without the bond, the college needs to take out loans with interest to complete current projects.

“If we get a loan, we know we will have to pay between $3-5 million a year in payment for the loan to finish that project,” Garcia said.

It is still unsure whether Mt. SAC will continue with water pipe infrastructure renovations and a library renovation without Measure V funding. The plans to renovate the campus to “last the next 20 years” remain volatile.

This is a developing story. Please check back later for future updates.