OC Treasurer Chriss Street opines

I attended most of last night's meeting of the South Orange County Community College Board of Trustees.

Nothing of any great importance occurred last night (at least during the first 3/4 of the meeting). The faculty contract item had been pulled. Nevertheless, board president Don Wagner allowed several guests to speak on the matter, including OC Treasurer Chriss Street, who seemed to be there to predict fiscal doom and gloom. (I'm not sure, but that decision may have been unprecedented.)

No doubt, notoriously anti-union trustee Tom Fuentes arranged for Street’s appearance as part of his effort to prevent a faculty raise. As is his custom, Fuentes has turned a complex issue into a matter of stupid and ugly politics. Intelligent deliberation about the proposed contract is now virtually impossible.

Street’s remarks concern the SOCCCD’s unusual “basic aid” funding, which depends on locally collected property taxes. Street’s point is that those funds will soon shrink substantially. (Also this night, a lobbyist for the community colleges indicated that there are officials who seek to channel this “basic aid” money to K-12 districts—and thus away from the SOCCCD. John Williams offered a strong opinion in opposition to that idea.)

Last night, other speakers referred to the fact that the proposed contract includes an approximately 5% increase that is in fact a COLA provided to all others state employees (including SOCCCD non-faculty employees) last year. Hence, most of this so-called proposed “raise” includes an increase already granted to employees across the state.

I do hope—and expect—that the faculty will secure this 5% increase. Speaking for myself only, I think that, under the circumstances (namely, the economic downturn), there is room for compromise regarding the rest of the proposed increase. Times are tough, and sacrifice is in order. But, again, I would insist on the 5%.


Later today, I'll have other videos from Tuesday's meeting.