Community College Initiative Will Not Be on the November 2006 Ballot

The proposed Community College Funding Stabilization and Student Fee Act of 2006 will not qualify for the November 2006 election due to cost increases in signature gathering, according to sponsors of the initiative. The initiative is intended to provide community colleges with their own separate “pot” of Proposition 98 funding, reduce community college enrollment fees from $26 to $20 per unit, and give the Board of Governors and Chancellor the same independence as the California State Universities.
 
The initiative will now be pulled from the Attorney General’s office for submission at a later date. When the initiative is resubmitted to the Attorney General’s office, supporters will have 150 days to gather signatures. It is their intent to start gathering signatures before the November 2006 election so they can meet a lower threshold of signatures that would be effective after the election. Supporters of the initiative will continue to hold fundraising events until signature gathering is started.

It appears that the June 2008 ballot is now the target for placing the measure before California voters.