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Murrieta council splits 3-2 on spending request for Mount San Jacinto legacy campaign, approves non-monetary support
Summary
After hours of debate over priorities and fiscal stewardship, the council rejected a motion to fund the Mount San Jacinto College legacy campaign and instead approved a substitute motion to express non-monetary support (proclamation/resolution) by a 3-2 vote, with Mayor Lavell, Mayor Pro Holiday and Councilwoman Stone voting in favor.
Murrieta’s City Council spent a substantial portion of its March 17 meeting debating whether to commit public funds to a legacy fundraising campaign honoring retiring Mount San Jacinto College President Dr. Roger Schultz.
Councilmember Lisa DeForest brought forward a request that the city contribute to a $100,000 legacy campaign; staff materials described sponsorship tiers and allocation of contributions (staff cited 75% to an endowment/university center and 25% for immediate student needs, though there was some confusion in council questions about split percentages). Patrick Ellis, president of the MSJC Foundation, urged municipal support, arguing the planned university center would expand local four-year degree options and economic opportunity.
Opponents on the council raised multiple concerns: competing local priorities (library fundraising, parks, pool repair, equestrian center), precedent for committing public dollars to private foundation campaigns, and a desire to prioritize direct resident services. Councilwoman Stone moved a motion to withhold city funds until local needs are met, which drew no second and therefore did not proceed.
Council then considered funding motions and amendments. Councilmember DeForest offered a motion to donate $5,000 with 75% to the university buildout and 25% to immediate student-success priorities; an amendment shifted the allocation entirely to the university center. Amid back-and-forth, Mayor Lavell offered a substitute motion asking staff to express formal support without any monetary contribution — a nonmonetary proclamation or similar recognition. The substitute motion passed on roll call 3-2 (Council members Warren and DeForest voted no; Stone, Mayor Prom Holiday and Mayor Lavell voted yes).
Councilmembers stressing the city’s broader fiscal demands said symbolic support would allow the council to endorse the campaign’s goals while preserving scarce general-fund dollars for local capital needs. Supporters argued even a modest municipal contribution would show regional buy-in for a project they said could produce jobs and higher-education access locally.
Council’s final action was the substitute (non-monetary) support measure; staff will coordinate the text of the proclamation or resolution and follow up with the MSJC Foundation.
