Both U.S. Representative Lois Capps and 3rd District Supervisor Gail Marshall depend on I.V. and the students for their votes so they can retain office. Marshall receives about 75 percent of the Isla Vista vote. Walter Capps would never have been elected to Congress if it weren't for the students. Many people in Goleta don't want the students determining who is on their city council. Furthermore, the people of Goleta despise the fact that the students come for a few years and vote, but won't be around to live with what they voted for.
Many students vote for bond issues that are paid for by higher property taxes.
Few, if any, students own property. Furthermore, taxes end up pushing up the cost of living. Most students don't realize this, but the rent of future students is affected by these votes as well. Bond payments generally last for long periods, such as 30 years. Anyone can argue until they are blue in the face that if I.V. and UCSB were included as part of the current city proposal, the new city would have substantially more money to work with.