Deegan touts campuses in Poway, Fallbrook at bond forum

By: DAVID GARRICK - Staff Writer | Tuesday, April 25, 2006 10:09 PM PDT ∞

SAN MARCOS ---- Using an array of statistics, Palomar College President Bob Deegan made a case Tuesday for using $200 million from a pending facilities bond to build satellite campuses in the Fallbrook and Poway areas.

Speaking to about 40 students, professors and administrators at a campus forum on the roughly $700 million bond measure, Deegan also explained how the college plans to convince voters that the bond measure is needed, what it would pay for and how much it would cost property owners.

Deegan spent nearly 20 minutes telling the audience that the campuses in Fallbrook and the Poway areas would not financially cripple the district and that they would draw an ample number of students from the start.

He said the campuses, which would likely open in 2010 or later, would generate surpluses at the outset because they would be built in phases and would serve geographic areas where Palomar has not met demand in recent years.

Projections indicate that the campuses would each serve about 3,700 students in their first semesters, who would take an average of 5.6 units per semester, said Deegan. That would work out to about 700 full-time students, generating $5.5 million in revenue.

Costs would be only about $1.3 million because most of the classes would be taught by part-time professors who earn far less than full-time professors, said Deegan. There would be some additional costs for nonteaching staff, but the college would still run a surplus, he said.

Deegan also explained that demand will increase in the northern portion of the district, which includes Fallbrook, and the southern portion of the district, which includes Poway and surrounding communities.

In the north, the number of eligible students is projected to jump from the current 116,000 to 148,000 by 2030, he said. In the south, eligible students will increase from the current 136,000 to 150,000 by 2030.

"We will start small with these campuses and build them up slowly to meet demand," said Deegan. "Our plan is not to just meet the immediate demand, but to meet the demand long term."

Deegan also explained that 1,700 students in the Poway area now attend Miramar College each year, even though they live within Palomar's boundaries.

"Many students are looking to Miramar College instead of driving 30 minutes to our San Marcos campus," said Deegan. "I have no doubt if we build a center in the Poway area, the classes would fill up immediately."

When one member of the audience suggested that Palomar should let the San Diego Community College district annex the southern portion of Palomar's district, Deegan explained that the Palomar district will definitely remain intact as the largest in San Diego County.

Deegan also explained that college trustees will decide in August exactly how large a bond to put on the November ballot.

He said that a third poll of the community, set for June or July, will help determine whether a $600 million, $700 million or $800 million bond would be supported by the 55 percent of voters required for approval.

Previous polls have indicated strong support for a $600 million bond, but more tepid support for a larger bond.

Employees and students at the college will likely be asked to call voters and canvas neighborhoods in August, September and October, Deegan said.

The $400 million to $600 million not spent on the Poway and Fallbrook campuses would pay for an array of new buildings on the main campus in San Marcos, said Deegan. The college plans to build a large building every two to three years if the bond passes, he said.

"A majority of the funds would be used to repair, renovate and replace most of the buildings on the San Marcos campus," said Deegan.

The first major project would be a comprehensive new library, which would allow all of the college's student services operations to move into the current library, he said.

"A one-stop shop with all student services is very convenient," said Deegan.

A $600 million bond would cost property owners about $17 a year per $100,000 of assessed value.

Contact staff writer David Garrick at (760) 761-4410 or dgarrick@nctimes.com.