Santa Barbara City College is one of the defining institutions in Santa Barbara.

Tens of thousands of our community’s young people have been educated at SBCC, and thousands more benefit from it now.

The college also has an extensive community education program that benefits many thousands.

Measure P on the Nov. 5 ballot merits a Yes vote. The initiative would provide funding for important capital facilities on the SBCC main campus on Cliff Drive as well as the Wake and Schott campuses.

The community has, perhaps surprisingly, not invested much in the college. There has been only one successful bond for SBCC since 1973.

Incidentally, the State of California generally expects community colleges to finance facility repairs through local bonds.

Santa Barbara City College has one of the finest community college campuses anywhere.

Its programs are exceptional — from children’s centers to concurrent enrollment of high school students at SBCC to local students who attend SBCC after high school on their way to a four-year college or university to vocational and continuing education for adults of all ages.

A vibrant Santa Barbara City College is a great asset to the entire community! Many thousands of our neighbors, friends, co-workers and fellow community members — and their children and grandchildren — will benefit from the planned improvements.

SBCC has had only four successful bonds in its history since opening on Cliff Drive in 1959 — in 1962, 1969, 1973 and 2008.

One successful bond in more than 50 years is not adequate to enable SBCC to continue to address facility challenges, notwithstanding that the college has spent significant funds on maintenance and repair.

Maintenance can only take place for so long; ultimately, facilities reach the end of their lifespan.

The generations that came before us invested in Santa Barbara City College. Now, it is this generation’s chance to stand up and be counted for SBCC!

Measure P has been carefully thought through so that the tax rate will not exceed the rate already approved by voters with the 2008 bond. Voting Yes on P simply extends this rate.

Inflation has increased, and it would cost more to make the same improvements in the future.

SBCC will benefit from facility expenditures at this time financially, and it is to the benefit of students and the community. It is important to protect the community’s investment in the physical plant of the college. 

In addition to the cost of construction, renovation and repair being more in the future if Measure P does not pass, the initiative will enable SBCC to qualify for tens of millions of dollars of state funding that may not — and probably would not — be available in the future and require a local match.

In particular, the Physical Science building — which was originally built with funds from the 1962 bond, more than 60 years ago — will be completely rebuilt. The new facility will become a major community improvement, rather than a deleterious and outmoded, substandard building.

This is also the last election that SBCC can use tens of millions of dollars of state funding available for the already approved physical education building replacement project.

Measure P will allow SBCC to qualify for tens of millions of dollars of state funding for classroom modernization, including for renovated and improved science labs.

The total amount of state funding that will be available as a result of Measure P is as much as $100 million. 

Santa Barbara City College is a leader in many fields, including health care. The SBCC nursing program is a vital component in our community’s health-care system.

Our community’s nurses and home health aides often receive training and education at SBCC. So do our radiologists and those in health information technology.

So it is for many in all roles in our community’s life. Many tens of thousands of community members born in Santa Barbara, Goleta and Carpinteria, and who live here their entire lives have, are and will benefit from SBCC.

Community colleges serve all members of the community. SBCC is among the most diverse and inclusive institutions in our community.

It’s worthwhile to support young people in developing their vocational career and from being enrolled in SBCC during high school and after they graduate from high school and later in their lives and careers.

Vote Yes on Measure P! It’s a great investment for the community, will benefit tens of thousands of local students for decades, and will not increase the tax rate for SBCC facilities beyond that approved in 2008.