TO:
Interested Parties
FROM:
John Fairbank, and Lucia Del Puppo
Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates
RE:
Summary of Cabrillo Community College Bond Measure Tracking Survey
Results
DATE:
February 26, 2016
Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3) recently completed a survey of likely June
2016 voters in the Cabrillo Community College District – a survey which shows there is strong
support for a potential $310 million dollar bond measure in June 2016. i Given draft ballot
language of a potential bond measure for Cabrillo College, more than three-quarters of voters
offered support (79%). Cabrillo College is seen as integral to the local community and residents
see a need for additional funding. The support for the ballot measure, awareness of the college,
and strong connection with the community indicate that, assuming similar circumstances, a
measure placed on the ballot in June 2016 to provide funding for key upgrades and repairs would
have an excellent chance of being approved by voters.
Some of the specific findings of the survey include the following:

More than three-quarters of voters support a potential community college bond
measure. Seventy-nine percent of voters say they would vote ‘yes’ on the potential bond
measure for Cabrillo College displayed in Figure 1 to make repairs and upgrades that would
continue to prepare students and veterans for good paying jobs and to successfully transfer to
four-year universities. This level of support is well-above the 55% threshold required for
passage. Forty percent of voters say they would definitely vote ‘yes.’ The intensity of support
far outweighs the intensity of the opposition, with only 11 percent of voters saying that they
would definitely vote ‘no’ on the measure (Figure 2). Furthermore, there is broad support
amongst a wide range of demographic groups, with Democrats (88% would vote ‘yes’),
independents (66%), Republicans, (66%) men (77%), women (80%), Latinos (80%), white
voters (80%), voters of color (77%), voters under 50 (80%), voters over 50 (78%), those who
have taken a course at the college (77%) and those who have not (83%) all showing support
12100 Wilshire Ave, Suite 350
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone:
(310) 828-1183
Fax:
(310) 453-6562
1999 Harrison Street, Suite 2020
O a k l a n d , C A
9 4 6 1 2
Phone: (510) 451-9521
Fax:
(510) 451-0384
Cabrillo Community College District Tracking Survey – Key Findings – February 2016
Page 2
above the 55 percent threshold. Support for the measure is also above the threshold in all
supervisor districts and in all cities in the county.
Figure 1: Hypothetical Bond Measure
CABRILLO COLLEGE TECHNOLOGY/JOB TRAINING/CLASSROOM REPAIR
MEASURE. To repair/upgrade classrooms to better prepare students/veterans/workers for
good jobs/university transfer by upgrading aging classrooms, technology/science
labs; repairing outdated/deteriorating wiring, sewer lines; improving campus
safety/handicapped accessibility; increasing water conservation/energy efficiency;
and acquiring, constructing, repairing sites/facilities/equipment, shall Cabrillo Community
College District issue $310,000,000 in bonds at legal rates, no funding administrators’
salaries/pensions, requiring independent audits, and all funds used locally?
Figure 2: Ballot Measure Vote

There is a widespread perception among voters that the College has a need for
additional funding. Sixty-nine percent of voters believe the College has at least some need
for funding (Figure 3) and ninety-eight percent of voters in the Cabrillo Community College
District are familiar with the College.
Cabrillo Community College District Tracking Survey – Key Findings – February 2016
Page 3
Figure 3: Perceived Need for Additional Funding
Overall, the survey results suggest that a Cabrillo Community College bond measure is wellpositioned to pass in June 2016. Given the overwhelming support from voters, the
community’s strong connection to the College, and perceived need for additional funding, the
potential measure is clearly viable for June 2016.
i
Survey Methodology: From February 20 – February 23, 2016, FM3 completed 400 telephone interviews (on
landlines and cellphones) with randomly-selected Cabrillo Community College District voters likely to participate in
the June 2016 election. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 4.9% at the 95% confidence interval. Due to rounding,
not all results will sum to 100%.