State Center Community College District officials say turning to a private company to run its bookstores will save students money, while adding to the district’s bottom line. District management wants to turn over operations to Follett Higher Education Group, a national firm based in Illinois. The board wasn't ready to...
Payne on Campaign Funds: There’s Nothing I’m Trying to Hide
Eric Payne says he’s working with state campaign finance regulators. The State Center Community College District trustee faces $66,000 in fines on 21 counts, including failing to file required forms to run for office. The Fair Political Practices Commission will hear about the proposed fine at its May 16 meeting...
With $66,000 in Fines Looming, Can Payne Fix Campaign Finance Mess?
A community college trustee has one more chance to settle his problems with the Fair Political Practices Commission. Otherwise, he could face $66,000 in fines. The state agency in charge of campaign finance compliance says Eric Payne, a two-term trustee with the State Center Community College District, violated 21 state laws...
State Center Trustees Decline to Investigate Payne, Kahn
Tensions simmered at the State Center trustee meeting Tuesday (Jan. 8), but did not boil over like the last time the group met. The board voted 4-3 against forming a special committee to look into ethical misconduct allegations levied mainly at trustee Eric Payne, and to a lesser extent Bobby...
Lies? Truth? Neither Side Backs Down in Explosive Trustee Debate
An explosive battle between two State Center trustees over one’s nomination as board vice president led to the district engaging in a fact-finding mission. At the Dec. 11 board meeting — the first meeting of the new term — Trustee Bobby Kahn objected to colleague Eric Payne’s nomination as board...
Fresno, Get Ready for Utility Rate Hikes
The Fresno City Council will start the process of raising utility rates at its meeting Thursday (Oct. 11). The overall rate would drop 13 cents next July and then gradually climb in 2020 through 2023. The city says the rates will continue to be among the lowest in the state....
Perea the Next Generation: Annalisa Runs for State Center Trustee
Another Perea is running for public office. Annalisa Perea announced her candidacy for State Center Community College District Trustee Area 5 today (June 29). She is an urban planner with Quad Knopf Inc. She is also a member of various planning organizations. After graduating from Cal Poly, the soon-to-be-31-year-old returned...
Update: Downtown Guarantee Building Will Be New State Center HQ
[Update 3/07/18]: Finally, State Center Community College District comes back to downtown Fresno. By a 7-0 vote in closed session, the Board of Trustees approved purchasing the Guarantee Building for $10.6 million. The seller is GBB Holdings/Arcus Private Capital. Measure C funds will be used for the purchase. The 80,100 square...
Half Billion Dollars Might Not Fulfill SCCCD Promises
It has been less than two years since voters in State Center Community College District passed a $485 million bond to build new facilities and renovate old ones. But district trustees already are facing the real possibility of making changes to the projects advertised to voters. What's going on? Christine...
Half Billion Dollars Might Not Fulfill SCCCD Promises
It has been less than two years since voters in State Center Community College District passed a $485 million bond to build new facilities and renovate old ones. But district trustees already are facing the real possibility of making changes to the projects advertised to voters. What's going on? Christine...