While the passage of Measure E in 1999 has allowed for funding new buildings at De Anza, the old facilities are not faring so well.

The board of trustees voted unanimously for the measure, Proposition 39, to finance building renovation and other projects at the two colleges. The Foothill-De Anza Community College District, attended by roughly 20 percent of Santa Clara County high school graduates, is also one of the lowest-funded districts in California.

The $490 million measure will now have to be approved by 55 percent of voters in the community college district. The district stretches from Palo Alto to Sunnyvale and encompassing parts of San Jose. If district residents approve the proposition, it would result in about a $24 fee per $100,000 in assessed property value. On average, this would mean residents would pay about $118 a year.

According to the district, with Foothill and De Anza approaching 50 years of age and enrollment approaching 50,000, the two schools are showing signs of aging.

"There are leaky roofs and building safety issues such as asbestos," said Betsy Bechtel, president of the board. "The chemistry labs look like the same ones I had when I was in school. The schools have tremendous facility and equipment needs."

As a part of those needs, the bond measure would pay for technology upgrades and new buildings. At De Anza, the money would be used for a new classroom building, and at Foothill it would pay for a new science building.