Legislative Analyst's Office

Analysis of the 2001-02 Budget Bill


California Community Colleges (6870)

The proposed 2001-02 capital outlay program for the California Community Colleges totals $143.6 million from general obligation bonds. This amount includes $129.9 million for 58 projects that have been previously funded by the Legislature and $13.7 million for 20 projects that are proposed to the Legislature for the first time. The estimated future cost to complete all projects in the budget is $277 million. Figure 1 shows the types of projects proposed in the community college program.

Figure 1

California Community Colleges
2001-02 Capital Outlay Program

(Dollars in Thousands)

Type of Project

Number of Projects

Budget Bill Amount

Estimated Future Cost

Seismic corrections

23

$28,645

$28,933

Equipment

25

30,938

Site development and utilities

2

2,568

2,836

Libraries

6

24,671

64,903

Child development centers

3

7,284

8,728

Undergraduate instructional improvements

17

49,150

167,580

Studies

2

313

Totals

78

$143,569

$276,611

Planning and Studies

We recommend the Legislature delete $108,000 for planning and studies and $205,000 for a seismic retrofit study because the Chancellor's Office has not substantiated the need for these additional funds. (Delete $108,000 from Item 6870-301-0574 [1] and $205,000 from Item 6870-301-0658 [1].)

The budget proposes $108,000 for planning and studies and for $205,000 for a seismic retrofit study. These funds could be used for either project-specific purposes or for general planning. The Chancellor's Office, however, already receives funding for both these activities. For each state-funded capital outlay project, the Chancellor's Office charges each community college district a fee based on cost of construction for its staff services. These fees are included in each approved capital outlay project. Consequently, funds are available to the Chancellor's Office for project-specific costs. General planning is the responsibility of the Chancellor's Office staff, who are funded in the support budget. Since these activities are funded elsewhere, we recommend the Legislature delete the requested $313,000.

Preliminary Plans Not Complete

We recommend the Legislature delete $64.1 million requested for working drawings and/or construction for 20 projects because preliminary plans are not complete. If preliminary plans and cost estimates are received in time for review during the budget process, the project requests would warrant legislative consideration.

We recommend the Legislature not appropriate working drawings and/or construction funding for projects when preliminary plans have not been completed so it can be verified that the projects are within the scope and budget approved by the Legislature. Preliminary plans for the 20 projects shown in Figure 2 have not been completed. We therefore recommend the Legislature delete the requested amounts. If preliminary plans and requested cost estimates are received in time for review during the budget process, the project requests would warrant legislative consideration.

Figure 2

California Community Colleges
Projects with Preliminary Plans Not Complete

(In Thousands)

Project a

Phase a

Amount
Proposed

Cerritos CCD, Cerritos College: seismic retrofit, administration

C

$1,146

Cerritos CCD, Cerritos College: seismic retrofit, liberal arts

C

901

Cerritos CCD, Cerritos College: seismic retrofit, social sciences

C

2,065

Contra Costa CCD, Diablo Valley College: life science renovation

W; C

8,730

El Camino CCD, El Camino College: science complex renovation (H&S)

C

14,211

Long Beach CCD, Long Beach City College: child development center

W; C

3,840

Los Angeles CCD, East Los Angeles College: technology building

C

16,269

Mendocino Lake CCD, Mendocino Community College: science building

W

267

Palomar CCD, Palomar College: high tech laboratory classroom building

W

1,063

Rancho Santiago CCD, Santa Ana College: seismic retrofit, auto diesel

C

718

Rancho Santiago CCD, Santa Ana College: seismic retrofit, Library A

C

882

Rancho Santiago CCD, Santa Ana College: seismic retrofit, Library B

C

1,051

San Bernardino CCD, San Bernardino Valley College: child development center

W; C

3,040

San Bernardino CCD, San Bernardino Valley College: seismic replacement, art building

C

1,457

San Bernardino CCD, San Bernardino Valley College: seismic retrofit, auditorium

C

3,185

San Bernardino CCD, San Bernardino Valley College: seismic retrofit, business building

C

1,834

San Bernardino CCD, San Bernardino Valley College: seismic retrofit, technical building

C

767

San Luis Obispo CCD, Cuesta College: library addition reconstruction

W

450

Santa Clarita CCD, College of the Canyons: seismic retrofit, Bonelli Center

C

1,684

Victor Valley CCD, Victor Valley College: advanced technology complex

W

565

Total

$64,125

a CCD = Community College District; W = working drawings; and C = construction.

Withhold Recommendation on Twenty New Projects

We withhold recommendation on $13.7 million for 20 new projects because information was not submitted in time for review.

The Governor's budget includes $13.7 million for the 20 projects that have not previously been submitted to the Legislature. These projects are shown in Figure 3. The project scope and cost information for these projects was approved by the Chancellor's office in summer 2000. The information, however, was not sent to the Legislature until mid-January 2001. Consequently, we have not had sufficient time to review the proposals to determine if (1) the scope and cost of each project are appropriate or (2) if the project is needed under year-round operation. Thus, we withhold recommendation on the projects in Figure 3 pending review of the submitted information, as well as any additional information that may be necessary to clarify the proposals.

Figure 3

California Community Colleges
Recommendation Withheld Pending Review

(In Thousands)

Project a

Phase a

Amount Proposed

Cerritos CCD, Cerritos College, seismic retrofit, metals

P; W

$104

Cerritos CCD, Cerritos College, seismic retrofit, electronics

P; W

68

Cerritos CCD, Cerritos College, seismic retrofit, science and math complex, life safety

P; W

1,214

Chaffey CCD, Chaffey College, Science Building

P; W

673

Citrus CCD, Citrus College, math/science building replacement

P; W

788

Contra Costa CCD, Diablo Valley College, seismic retrofit, humanities building

P; W; C

894

Desert CCD, College of the Desert, seismic retrofit, dining hall

P; W

78

Long Beach CCD, Long Beach City College, replacement of technology buildings

P; W

737

Los Angeles CCD, Los Angeles City College, child development center

P; W

404

Los Angeles CCD, Los Angeles Trade-Tech College, Building F mechanical system conversion

P; W; C

955

Monterey Peninsula CCD, Monterey Peninsula College, plant service complex (H&S)

P; W; C

1,280

Mt. San Antonio CCD, Mt. San Antonio College, science building replacement

P; W

1,485

Mt. San Jacinto CCD, Menifee Community College, learning resource center

P; W

704

North Orange CCD, Fullerton College, library/learning resources center

P; W

1,384

San Joaquin Delta CCD, San Joaquin Delta CCD, electrical system infrastructure

P; W

288

San Luis Obispo County Community College District, North County Center, initial building-science cluster

P; W

647

San Mateo County Community College District, Canada College, seismic retrofit, student services building #6

P; W

353

San Mateo County Community College District, Skyline College, seismic retrofit, gym building #3

P; W

157

San Mateo County Community College District, Skyline College, seismic retrofit, building #7 and #8

P; W

365

Victor Valley Community College District, seismic retrofit, auxiliary gymnasium

P; W; C

1,087

Total

 

$13,665

a CCD = Community College District; P = preliminary plans; W = working drawings; and C = construction.


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