Letter: Measure F will create a terrific destination college

I have worked at Lake Tahoe Community College for over 21 years as a classified employee. In those years, I have seen a lot of changes – many good, some not. I wanted to address something that I haven't seen touched on yet regarding the college’s bond measure, and that is what happens at LTCC if Measure F does not pass.

The result would be quite painful. Jobs will be lost, and programs will be cut. It is true that Measure F monies cannot be used for administrator or faculty salaries. But the bond will help to alleviate the very real possibility of layoffs because it will take pressure off of our general budget to pay for the repairs and modernization our aging college is in desperate need of. If Measure F money is not there to pay for electrical upgrades, heating and cooling system replacements and repairs, roof repair, safety upgrades, more modern technology and other critical repair and replacement work, then the college will be forced to reduce its staff and programs to pay for these costs.

For some years now, LTCC staff has had to take on more work with fewer resources. Since the economy collapsed in 2008, many jobs at the college haven’t been refilled as staff retired or quit out of them. Two years ago, the Instruction Office where I work lost employees who weren’t replaced to the tune of 68 hours of work per week. Those people weren’t replaced, but the work they were responsible for hasn’t gone away.

During this campaign season, I’ve heard several people say that staff at LTCC has received cost of living increases for years. I can tell you, that is simply not true. Back in 2007, staff and faculty received a one-time-only, off-the-salary-schedule bonus of about 1%. It wasn’t a permanent raise. It was just a small, one-time payout. There have been no COLA raises since then.

There are many great reasons to vote for Measure F – it will result in a terrific destination college we can all feel proud about, and it will create a much better learning environment for our students, better preparing them for the challenges of the modern workplace and world. But it will also help to protect good jobs at LTCC, and the good people in them. I urge you to help keep jobs at LTCC and vote Yes on Measure F! Thank you.

Lori Thorne, Classified/Confidential Employee