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more photosCOCC board member Charley Miller points to a computer screen showing early results from Jefferson County as Terry Link, a student government member, and Leah Peterson look on at the college's student center.
Rob Kerr / The Bulletin
COCC gets the money
$41.58M bond measure passes, paving the way for upgrades at facilities in 4 cities
By Sheila G. Miller / The Bulletin
Published: November 04. 2009 4:00AM PSTCentral Oregon Community College was getting the go-ahead from voters late Tuesday to build new facilities around the region to ease crowding caused by a drastic increase in enrollment.
As of about 11 p.m. Tuesday, 53 percent of voters were supporting the $41.58 million bond, which will cost property owners about 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.
“We have profound respect and appreciation for the people in this community who stepped up to create this opportunity, not just in immediate terms but in the next decade,” COCC President Jim Middleton said late Tuesday.
“There's a real transformation that can be made here,” he added.
“We understand we have a responsibility to deliver for our students and to deliver for the community.”
The bond, which administrators say will cost the average homeowner less than $2 per month, will fund construction of a health and science building on the Bend campus, as well as a technology education center in Redmond and education campus facilities in Madras and Prineville. It will also pay for new labs, clinics and other facilities for health career programs and for the renovation of campus facilities to deal with the college's more than 40 percent enrollment increase over the past two years.
In addition, the passage of the bond means the college will be able to use $11.47 million in state funding, which is earmarked for the Bend health and science building and the technology education center in Redmond.
COCC's voting district includes all of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties, as well as portions of Klamath, Wasco and Lake counties.
On Tuesday evening, COCC students, staff and board members gathered in the student center to await election results. The group was upbeat as the results trickled in.
In November 2008, 53 percent of voters turned down a similar bond. Middleton said he was pleased that support for the bond had increased in every county over 2008.
“This feels different,” Middleton said about this year's election night. “I sense more of a connection to the community, with the involvement of the business community and their support.
“It's extremely heartening to see this level of involvement when support is not automatic. We're in challenging times, and we really appreciate this.”
For COCC board member Charley Miller, one of the key differences was the support the college received during this year's campaign.
“This campaign was good. If we win or lose, this has been good for COCC with the awareness of the community. And the student involvement has been kind of special,” he said. “That drew in the faculty and staff, and the grass roots campaign, with the businesses and the chambers. It's created a lot of awareness. ... I think people understand the need.”
Sheila G.
Miller
can be reached at 541-617-7831 or at smiller@bendbulletin.com.
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