Local Study Shows Money Well Spent on Orange County Community Colleges  A new study confirms that money spent on Orange County’s community colleges provides taxpayers a 15 percent return on their investment and generates economic growth and an improved quality of life for residents here. The study was conducted about the same time as a statewide report released by the Campaign for College Opportunity. That report found that for every dollar California invests in educating more college students, the state receives three dollars in net return. The Campaign for College Opportunity brought its study to Orange County this week to discuss the need to continue to invest in the state’s higher education system. CONTACT: Martha Parham District Director, Marketing and Public Affairs (714) 438-4605 January 20, 2006 NEWS The Orange County-specific study was conducted at the request of the county’s four community college districts – Coast Community College District, North Orange County Community College District, Rancho Santiago Community College District and South Orange County Community College District. Completed by Idaho-based CCbenefits Inc., The Economic Contribution of the Orange County Community College Districts quantifies the benefits that the county’s community colleges provide to the community, taxpayers, and students, and shows that those benefits far exceed their operating costs. The study shows how Orange County community colleges help to stimulate the state and local economy, leverage taxpayer dollars, generate a return on investments, and increase students’ earning potential. “Orange County (Community Colleges) are an attractive investment to students, state and local governments, and all of their other major stakeholders,” the study finds. “The rates of return to students invariably exceed alternative investment opportunities.  At the same time, state and local governments can take comfort in knowing that their expenditure of taxpayer funds creates a wide range of positive social benefits and, perhaps more importantly, actually returns more to government budgets than it costs.” “This study quantifies what many of us have known for a long time: community colleges are a boon not just for students, but also to the entire quality of life in the communities we serve,” said Dr. Ken Yglesias, chancellor of the Coast Community College District headquartered in Costa Mesa. “Our students make better wages, provide skilled workers to local businesses, and contribute to the local economy.” “Orange County taxpayers have voted over the last few years to approve local bond measures in three of the four community college districts in Orange County,” said Dr. Eddie Hernandez, chancellor of the Rancho Santiago Community College District in Santa Ana. “They know we are a great investment, and have shown their willingness to invest in their own future by providing funds to improve and expand our facilities.” The four Orange County community college districts co-hosted the Campaign for College Opportunity and a community discussion today (January 20).  Chancellors of the other districts who participated are Dr. Jerome Hunter, North Orange County Community College District, and Dr. Raghu Mathur, South Orange County Community College District. ### The Coast Community College District is the ninth largest community college district in the state in credit enrollment, serving 60,000 students each semester. The district is comprised of Coastline Community College headquartered in Fountain Valley, Golden West College in Huntington Beach and Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa.