Health
care
companies
and
firms
related
to
the
construction
industry
have
contributed
nearly
$160,000
to
a
campaign
aimed
at
passing
a
nearly
$1
billion
community
college
bond
measure
Nov.
2.
The
figure
is
nearly
half
of
the
money
collected
so
far.
Bond
money
from
Proposition
401
would
pay
for
among
other
things
construction
of
a
nursing
and
biomedical
facility,
a
health
care
training
center,
more
than
a
million
square
feet
of
classroom
and
lab
space,
and
building
refurbishment
at
10
colleges.
Citizens
for
the
Maricopa
Community
Colleges
is
trying
to
raise
more
than
$1
million
to
reach
voters,
according
to
donors.
Campaign
reports
show
the
group
collected
$336,488
as
of
Aug.
26.
That
total
is
expected
to
increase
dramatically
by
Thursday,
when
campaigns
must
report
new
contributions.
Donations
of
more
than
$1,000
came
from
health
care
companies,
12
construction
firms,
architect
and
design
firms,
pipe
fitters,
telecommunications
companies,
consulting
firms,
and
16
individuals.
Nearly
100
individuals
made
smaller
contributions.
Overall,
nearly
60
firms
have
donated
money.
The
campaign
is
heavy
with
support
and
financial
clout,
boasting
the
endorsements
of
CEOs,
politicians
and
professional
sports
figures.
The
Arizona
Tax
Research
Association
is
opposing
the
bond
issue.
The
nonprofit
agency
lacks
the
campaign’s
budget
and
celebrity
power,
but
holds
sway
as
a
respected
public
watchdog
on
government
taxing.
It
fought
bond
proposals
by
the
community
college
district
in
1992
and
1994.
The
district
lost
in
1992,
but
won
two
years
later.
Bonds
shouldn’t
pay
for
computers
because
they
become
obsolete
quickly,
or
for
maintenance
and
repairs
because
they
are
recurring
expenses,
said
Michael
Hunter,
vice
president
of
the
association.
Bonds
are
usually
issued
for
10
to
20
years,
and
taxpayers
would
be
paying
on
them
long
after
the
computers
would
be
replaced
or
the
parking
lots
would
need
repaving,
he
said.
Lionel
Diaz,
an
executive
assistant
to
the
Maricopa
Community
College
District
chancellor,
said
the
district
plans
to
pay
off
bonds
used
for
computers
in
three
to
seven
years,
well
within
their
life
span.
He
pointed
out
that
the
district
isn’t
doing
anything
wrong
—
schools
often
use
bonds
for
technology.
Paying
off
the
bonds
used
for
technology
in
three
to
seven
years
means
delaying
payments
on
bonds
used
for
construction,
Hunter
countered.
Overall,
the
debt
structure
looks
the
same
if
both
bonds
were
treated
the
same,
he
said.
Dennis
Mattheisen,
director
of
the
finance
audit
section
of
the
Arizona
Auditor
General’s
Office,
said
Hunter
and
Diaz
are
both
right.
It
may
not
be
possible
for
schools
or
other
local
government
agencies
to
afford
to
keep
up
with
technology
without
bonds,
he
said,
adding
that
it’s
routinely
done.
But,
the
opposing
association
is
arguing
a
sound
policy
because
the
life
span
of
most
technology
will
end
long
before
the
bonds
are
retired,
he
said.
"The
question
is
a
very
difficult
one
to
answer,"
he
said.
If
voters
reject
the
bonds,
it
would
jeopardize
the
community
college
district’s
ability
to
expand,
maintain
low
tuition,
stay
abreast
with
technology,
and
train
students
for
the
work
force,
according
to
Citizens
for
the
Maricopa
Community
Colleges.
The
district
says
there
isn’t
enough
money
in
its
budget
for
these
projects,
and
fears
it
will
run
out
of
space
soon
if
student
populations
continue
to
grow.
"This
will
change
everything
for
anyone
who
has
kids
or
grandkids,"
said
Liana
Harrison
of
Core
Construction
Services
of
Phoenix,
a
campaign
contributor.
Last
month,
the
company
took
in
nearly
$33,000
at
a
campaign
fundraiser
featuring
Arizona
Diamondbacks
player
Luis
Gonzales
as
the
speaker.
The
district
is
proposing
to
use
$951
million
in
general
obligation
bonds
to
build
1.6
million
square
feet
of
new
space
at
10
campuses
in
Maricopa
County,
buy
land
in
the
downtowns
of
Phoenix
and
Mesa
for
new
campuses,
replace
obsolete
technology,
remodel
buildings,
and
repair
equipment
and
infrastructure.
Generally,
the
breakdown
would
be
$550
million
for
construction
projects,
$300
million
for
computer
and
technology
equipment,
and
$67
million
for
reroofing,
repaving
parking
lots
and
other
maintenance
projects.
The
bonds
would
be
repaid
by
a
property
tax
increase
in
less
than
20
years
at
a
total
cost
of
nearly
$1.4
billion
in
principal
and
interest.
Homes
valued
at
$100,000
would
see
an
average
property
tax
increase
of
$15.83
per
year.
The
campaign
chairman
is
Steven
Chanen,
president
of
Chanen
Construction
Co.
of
Phoenix.
Neither
he
nor
Jessica
Florez,
the
campaign
manager
and
a
former
Phoenix
city
councilwoman,
could
be
reached.
Jay
Thorne,
a
political
consultant
who
is
the
campaign’s
spokesman,
didn’t
return
calls.
Rufus
Glasper,
chancellor
of
Maricopa
Community
College
District:
$5,000
Corina
Gardea,
president
of
Phoenix
College:
$4,000
Debra
Thompson,
district
vice
chancellor:
$3,000
Eugene
Giovannini,
president
of
Gateway
Community
College:
$2,211.33
Romano
Romani,
president,
Parry,
Romani,
DeConcini
&
Symms:
$2,000
Ronald
Bleed,
district
vice
chancellor:
$1,500
