Basic Aid in Action
Community-funded. Student-first.West Valley–Mission is a Basic Aid district, meaning local property tax revenue exceeds the state funding formula — allowing the district to retain and reinvest local dollars directly into students, instruction, and long-term fiscal stability.
Basic Aid enables local solutions to local cost-of-living challenges.
$10.8 million invested this year to reduce students’ cost of attendance.
Not pilot programs, but districtwide commitments to removing barriers.
Enrollment Fees Fully Waived (AB 3158)
14,785 resident enrollments supported in 2025
Nation’s First Universal Free Meal Program
4,895 students served · 177,662 meals · 95% utilization
Free Childcare for Student Parents
110 children served (Fall 2025)
Free Clinical & Mental Health Care
5,000+ visits and $750,000+ student savings for 2025
Free Parking & Transportation Support
50,000+ students benefited · $2 million returned to students
Other Cost-of-Attendance Supports
Free technology, textbooks, & clothing programs
I work, I support my family, and I didn’t think I could afford to stay in school. Free meals on campus, not paying tuition, getting health care when I need it, and not worrying about gas costs changed that. Those things sound small, but they’re the reason I’m still enrolled.
West Valley–Mission employs one of the highest-paid community college workforces in the country, by design. Competitive compensation sustains instructional quality, strengthens student support, and ensures stability for faculty and staff in one of the most expensive regions in California.
Over the past decade, the District COLA has exceeded the statewide average by more than two-to-one.
Basic Aid revenue fluctuates. Reserves allow the district to:
- Sustain operations during economic downturns or property tax revenue shortfalls
- Shield students from sudden cost increases in a high-cost region
- Maintain continuity of instruction and services during emergencies or natural disasters
- Meet multi-year fiscal and capital obligations, including leave liabilities, debt service, and retirement commitments
West Valley–Mission demonstrates what is possible when local revenue is paired with accountability, transparency, and a clear commitment to student and employee affordability.
Preserving local reinvestment capacity protects students, strengthens educational quality, and ensures community colleges can continue meeting the needs of the regions they serve.
Contact:
Cade Story-Yetto, Chief of Staff
West Valley–Mission Community College District