November 8, 2024 - By James Leonard - Initial election results from western Merced County, with 100% of precincts reporting, show Measure P passing with nearly 74% of the vote. The victory, once official, will ensure funding to further expand and improve the Merced College Los Banos Campus.

The $46 million bond measure, which needed 55% of the vote to pass, essentially extends the district’s current bond, generating critical funds for the district without raising local tax rates or adding new taxes. Pending final certification of the election results, the measure will aim to enhance educational access by upgrading classrooms, labs, and career training facilities.

The proposed funding will focus on preparing students for high-demand careers in science, healthcare, technology, agriculture, and skilled trades.

“We are thrilled to see how passionately the Los Banos community came out to support their college in this election,” President Chris Vitelli said. “The recent growth of the Los Banos Campus has been remarkable, and these funds will allow us to take this beautiful campus to the next level and support even more students from Los Banos and the surrounding communities.”

Bond funds will be used to:

• Build new career training facilities designed to prepare students for in-demand industries such as healthcare, agriculture, computer information systems, welding, and other skilled trades.
• Expand classrooms and labs for general education and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) programs, providing students with modern facilities for hands-on learning in fields essential to the local economy.
• Upgrade instructional technology and computer systems, ensuring students have access to state-of-the-art resources that support learning and enhance employability.
• Improve student support services, including career placement, university transfer programs, academic counseling, and specialized support for veterans and foster youth.

The Los Banos Campus has seen substantial growth in recent years, including the expansion of its welding program and the completion of a new Child Development Center. This bond will build on these successes, providing the campus with the resources it needs to continue supporting students and contributing to the local economy.

“Thank you for supporting our measure, for displaying lawn signs, and for valuing education in our community,” said Jessica Moran, Dean of Instruction for the Los Banos Campus. “We are so proud of our community and our campus, and I could not be more excited about our future.

“These improvements will benefit countless students in our community, while providing local employers with better prepared and more highly-skilled workers. The best is yet to come for Los Banos!”

Measure P will authorize $46 million in bonds at legal rates, generating approximately $3 million annually without changing the current tax rate of $17 per $100,000 of assessed property value. The funding would help accommodate the growing student population and meet the increasing demand for job training programs that serve the community.

The bond measure includes strict fiscal accountability, with oversight by an independent citizens’ committee, annual audits, and public reporting of all expenditures. Additionally, by law, all funds from Measure P can be used solely for the Los Banos Campus, with none allocated to administrator salaries or benefits.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank everyone who voted, volunteered and supported Measure P,” said Joe Gutierrez, a member of the Board of Trustees who represents Los Banos. “The people of Los Banos deserve a campus that will provide all the instruction and support they need to improve their lives and careers, and this bond measure will help make that vision a reality.”