Statewide Bond May Help Area Cal State Project

Chances are very good that passage of a statewide school bond measure in March would funnel nearly $1 million to a proposed four-year public university in Ventura County, according to the top planner for the Cal State University system.

“There is a very strong probability” that $936,000 for initial plans for a new 260-acre campus near Camarillo would come from a $3-billion bond measure to come before voters March 26, said George Dutra, Cal State chief of policy and planning.

“Our chancellor is very supportive of this project and, with that kind of strong leadership, there’s every reason to believe that this project has a strong opportunity to be funded [by the bond],” Dutra said.

The Ventura County campus is not yet included on the Cal State system’s list of construction projects that could be underwritten over the next two years by its $300-million share of the bond money.

But Cal State officials suggest that the $936,000 will probably be added as a project for the fiscal year beginning in July 1997.

“There’s been a lot of talk lately here in terms of the timeline for Ventura, so it’s possible things could get moved up,” Cal State spokesman Steve MacCarthy said.

Cal State officials are eager to demonstrate the 22-campus system’s commitment to this county after the abrupt reassignment two weeks ago of David Leveille, longtime point man for the Ventura County campus.

Chancellor Barry Munitz said late Thursday that he has not yet decided whether to boost the priority of the Ventura County campus.

“But we’re talking about a $300-million [bond] pool,” Munitz said. “All it takes is for a bid to come in a little lower than expected. So there is flexibility.”

And regardless of whether the bond passes this spring, Munitz said he has a $300,000 emergency fund that he could tap to keep the Ventura County campus moving ahead.

“So if I have to, I will tap that fund, because the Ventura campus is a very high priority,” he said.

MacCarthy said a new Ventura County point man will be named and Cal State’s “ultimate timeline” for the local campus detailed in an announcement late this month. The announcement will follow a meeting of Cal State trustees Jan. 23 and 24 in Long Beach, he said.

“[It] will send a pretty strong message about the university’s commitment to Ventura,” MacCarthy said.

For the moment, however, the $936,000 to design the site’s roads and sewer, water, gas, electrical and phone systems is on Cal State’s 1998-99 list of high-priority projects, he said.

“But the point is, if you lose the March bond election, everything gets backed up,” he said. “We’ve lost two of the last three bond elections.”

A $450-million statewide school bond measure failed in 1990, a $900-million measure passed in 1992 and a $900-million initiative lost in 1994.

Aware of voters’ past rejections of such bonds, Ventura County supporters of the university have expressed frustration with Cal State officials for not stating clearly that this county has a stake in passing the March measure.

“This planning money is absolutely crucial,” said Penny Bohannon, deputy chief administrator for Ventura County.

“We want to know the definite amount [from the bond] so we can help educate the public as to the local benefit,” she said. “CSU is just reluctant to put it out there, but they need our help desperately on this.”

Dutra said Cal State trustees are reluctant to make commitments to projects one campus at a time, but that one might be forthcoming for Ventura County.

“I just feel it has a good shot,” he said. “There’s political support for that from [State Sen.] Jack O’Connell’s office.”

In fact, O’Connell, a Democrat who represents part of Ventura County, said he met with Munitz on Jan. 5 about the Ventura County campus and was assured of support.

“There was nothing in writing [about the $936,000],” O’Connell said. “But Chancellor Munitz assured me that they’re going to do everything they can to help with the Ventura-area campus.”

O’Connell said he will have some control over where Cal State’s share of the bond money goes because he is one of just three members on the Senate Budget Committee and can help steer decisions.

“You know where my priorities are,” he said. “I will be in strong position to assure necessary funding to keep our campus on track.”