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"Money matters."
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This information is provided by the candidate | ||
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"Money matters."
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This information is provided by the candidate | ||
Sorry to be so unspecific, but the 7 April 1997 San Matean reported the SMCCCD Board passed a $44.25 million '97-'98 budget, but the 10 September 1997 SMCCCD Board Minutes reported $116.5 million. Is it possible with a 163% variance that a money is slipping between the cracks? Start with something simple. The SMCCCD stopped mailing out grades to students to save money, they said. Yet they continue to mail out multiple waves of junk at First Class rates. Hello? Then consider to technology equipment that is idle, donated to charity or thrown out and faculty and students who never know until the last minute of they will have a certain class. Some time ago CSM closed the cafeteria and union for cost reasons. Since then the campus has had roach coaches for five years, a cafe, and now they are building a kiosk without a kitchen, to be managed by the same company. Student Senators have repeatedly expressed concern about the price and quality of food served in the cafe. These have still not met the need to serve students, faculty and administration with a place to eat an affordable, decent meal and relax. Surely a restaurant could do a better job. Land: consider the 30 acres worth $16 million at Can~ada, plus other property earmarked for a Coastside Campus. This fall the Board incumbents rubber stamped the sale of parcels below appraisal value with only one non competitive bid. This cries out for closer scrutiny or audit by a Board member who knows finance and real estate. Why is the Board selling land to pay for lighting and repairs that should be in the budget reserves? What about community centers on the flatland and affordable housing for students, faculty and administration? Stanford University did a great job with their award winning housing, and increased their income, too. Clearly, the Board needs someone with a financial background to better manage scarce resources and protect the taxpayer on money matters.
