Multnomah Co. Online Voters' Guide
November 2006 General Election

Mt. Hood Community College

Measure No. 26-83

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

It's been 37 years since the Mt. Hood Community College campus was built and over 25 years since the last voter-approved bonds were passed. During this time, the College has served over 838,000 students/area residents and contributes over $603 million to the local economies each year adding to local economic development. The College is one of the area's major employers and through workforce development, it prepares students and adults for higher education, job training and career development.

The College was originally built with a locally-approved bond authorization that has been completely paid off. Mt. Hood Community College is one of the few Oregon colleges that have no outstanding general obligation bonds.

However, 37 years of constant use has impacted the campus. Roofs need to be replaced to protect against damage and leaks. The original lighting needs to be replaced for safety and efficiency. Sidewalks, parking lots, curbing and roadways need to be repaved to remove hazards. Overgrown trees and plants need to be trimmed and removed to improve sightlines to help prevent crime. Earthquake safety work needs to be done and asbestos needs to be removed. The Early Childhood Development Center , which prepares students for careers in early childhood education and provides child care for students, has been operating in 30-year old ‘temporary/modular' buildings and needs replacement to keep up with new and changing federal and state requirements.

The State of Oregon requires community colleges to match state-supported construction dollar for dollar. Mt. Hood Community College is proposing the construction of a multipurpose Educational Center building to improve, expand and increase educational opportunities for our students. The Educational Center will also allow the College to develop new agreements with local high schools and Oregon universities to expand programs for area residents and students.

The College has had to operate without state capital improvement funds. Without state capital improvement funds and no locally approved general obligation bonds, the College has had to borrow money to maintain its facilities. Of the $12 million it has borrowed, $4 million is being proposed to be refinanced by the general obligation bond. This refinance will save the College general fund about $500,000 per year which will be used to support and improve educational programs and operations.

A recent study by architects, engineers and construction specialists identified over $277 million of work that is needed to get the campus repaired to current standards for safety and efficiency. The proposed bond authorization of $58.8 million will address only the needs that the MHCC Board of Education believes to be the most critical to protecting the campus and the community's investment in the College.

The general obligation bond authorization of $58.8 million, on average, will cost 17 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation of property. A home of $200,000 value will be assessed approximately $2.83 per month or approximately $34.00 per year to support this effort. Bonds will mature in not more than 25 years.

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

We live in east Portland, in the Parkrose school district.

Like all east Portland homeowners, we are part owners of – and investors in – Mt. Hood Community College.

Over forty years ago, the people of east Portland and east Multnomah County voted to invest in our communities' future, to build our own community college.

That investment has paid off.

Mt. Hood Community College has educated hundreds of thousands of east Portlanders. Each year students from Parkrose and David Douglas continue their education at our community college, Mt. Hood. Thousands more east Portlanders of all ages have benefited from training, apprenticeships, and community education classes offered by Mt. Hood.

While Mt. Hood has been well cared for and has delivered for east Portland, like any investment, like a home, there comes a time when simple maintenance isn't enough:

When the roof needs replacing.

When the electrical system is obsolete.

When the mechanical systems are failing.

When the safety and security designed for 1966 simply isn't safe enough for 2006.

When you vote “yes” for Mt. Hood , you're ensuring that the college will continue to be the investment that pays off for east Portland.

It's time to protect your investment .

This measure makes the same kinds of necessary, basic, common sense investments in the college that homeowners do. The Mt. Hood measure:

Repairs the roof, electrical, and mechanical systems.

Makes the campus safer and more secure.

Refinances some existing college debt, ensuring better, more efficient use of taxpayer funds.

Makes it possible to bring east Portland and east county our fair share of state matching funds.

Establishes a citizen oversight committee to make sure every dollar is well spent, and that your investment is protected.

Mt. Hood Community College's main campus is located in Gresham, but as east Portlanders, it is our college. All of us who live east of I-205 are Mt. Hood's owners and investors.

Let's protect our investment.

Duke & Laura Shepard
East Portland

(This information furnished by Duke Shepard )

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Fellow Oregonians,

My association with Mt. Hood Community College began at the inception of the College. My husband, Frank Roberts, served on the first MHCC Board of Education and was intimately involved with the construction of the current facilities. Also, I served on the Board from 1978 to 1981. My children have taken classes at the college and our family remains connected. So, as you can tell, I hold a deep affection for this institution.

Each time I walk on campus I am struck with the vision of buildings and facilities that have not changed in 40 years. It breaks my heart to see the pressing needs for facility upgrades. As Former Governor of the State of Oregon, I understand the true value of the College to our state and the entire region. Over 800,000 students have received a quality education at MHCC over the past 40 years. The college contributes more than $600 million dollars to our local economy each year. Now is the time to step forward and protect our investment. Our college must be supported to continue to meet the demands of the business community for a trained workforce. Support of bond measure 26-83 is required to ensure the continued stability and effectiveness of MHCC. The bond will cost taxpayers 17 cents per $100,000 assessed value. For a $200,000 home that's only $2.83 per month. For the cost of a cup of coffee each month, you can help ensure the future of our community. It's now time for MHCC and its future.

VOTE YES ON Measure 26-83.

Respectfully,

Governor Barbara Roberts

(This information furnished by Barbara Roberts )

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

There is no better investment we can make in the future economic and social health of our community than voting “YES” on the Mt. Hood Community College Bond Measure.

I am an ardent supporter of the community college and have been for many years. As a business owner and community member, I have seen first hand how important it is that people in this community have easy access to high quality education and job training programs. Where else would our local hospitals and clinics turn to find well-trained nurses, paramedics, dental hygienists and other employees? Who fixes our cars, repairs our computers and staffs our offices? Where do new businesses turn to train their workers or upgrade their employees' skills? Every day I depend upon a community college graduate to help make my life run smoothly. Every day I am grateful that Mt. Hood Community College is here to help recent immigrants learn English, to teach people job skills so they can shake off welfare, to provide access for our high school students to college degrees and to give all of us lifelong educational opportunities.

This bond measure is not filled with ‘nice-to-do' projects or fancy new buildings. It will meet just the bare bones needs of our aging and deteriorating campus buildings. It will replace outdated and unsafe instructional areas, provide for better energy efficient operations and save valuable public dollars. It will help extend the useful life of campus buildings by at least ten years. It makes good business sense.

(This information furnished by Fred Bruning,
Friends of Mt. Hood Community College)

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Community members

I am voting “YES” on the Mt. Hood Community College bond measure because as a State Senator from the Gresham area as well as a nurse, I recognize the value MHCC provides to us. The nursing shortage has emerged as one of the most critical issues facing the citizens of Oregon. The need for more highly trained nurses only increases as we grow older. I am passionate about this issue and have dedicated my legislative agenda to focus upon what can be done for the health care in Oregon. MHCC has demonstrated how a community college can assist in this effort. When informed of the critical need for trained nurses, the college board of directors set a goal of doubling the nursing program's output of highly qualified nurses. The college was able to accomplish this goal and even exceed it through the construction of a new nursing facility. This facility became a reality thanks in no small part to a donation from a local family. That donation along with others resources provide a state-of-the-arts facility. Without such community support the college would not have been able to increase the number of graduates and provide up to date training for our future care givers. This example illustrates the ability the college has to meet the challenges of providing a trained workforce to support the people of our region and the state. Adequate support is what's needed to ensure the college's response to such challenges. A trained workforce is critical to the economic health of the state. We must support our college to ensure our future way of life. The college needs to update facilities built over 30 years ago. If the facilities continue to decline, there will be fewer programs like nursing available. It's time to step forward. Vote yes on initiative 26-83 in November. There is no better investment you can make in our future.

Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson

(This information furnished by Laurie Monnes Anderson,
Friends of Mt. Hood Community College)

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Mt. Hood Community College is proposing a bond measure to take care of essential repairs to the college classroom buildings, electrical, plumbing and heating systems, roofs, parking lots and much more. Proceeds from the bond will also provide better security for our students and staff. What's being proposed are not items that would be nice to fix. These are essential repairs that have been put off for so long that they must be taken care of now or the college runs the risk of having to close parts of the campus and certainly faces even more costly repairs in the future as the buildings continue to deteriorate.

I was a teacher in the David Douglas District when voters first approved the establishing of Mt. Hood Community College. It was an immediate hit because the college provided a first class education and vocational training at a very reasonable cost compared to four year colleges. As many as 50% of David Douglas college graduates picked MHCC as their first choice.

Throughout the years MHCC has continued to provide the community with a first class education. As the Superintendent of David Douglas School District from 1981 to 1985, I worked closely with the community college; I can assure you the college provides a superior education for the students and adults of this community. I know hundreds of students who had great experiences at MHCC, including my own children.

Since my retirement, I too have taken enrichment classes at the community college. As a frequent visitor to the campus, I've seen first hand the run down condition of the buildings and grounds. I urge you to visit the campus and see for yourselves. The vote “Yes” to bring MHCC up to today's standards for asbestos control, disabled access, and earthquake protection. Let's invest now in the vital community resource so we will have the college around for many more years for our children and grandchildren.

Dr. Tony Palermini

(This information furnished by Tony Palermini,
Friends of Mt. Hood Community College)

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Vote YES on Measure 26-83

Protect Your Investment

Mt. Hood Community College is the heart of our region. The college is the Engine that provides the workforce for economic development in East County. MHCC serves 26,000 students a year. This includes technical training, college transfer programs, community education classes, childcare educational programs and athletic programs for the community.

We need your help in support of the bond for many reasons:

• The College's aging facility is in desperate need of repair. Leaky roofs are a good example of the wear and tear that is taking place.
• The facility is not prepared for a catastrophic earthquake. Seismic upgrades are a must.
• The College lost one of two cooling systems this summer, another example of aging infrastructure.
• Safety and security on campus has always been a top priority, that's why upgrading the outside lighting system is a necessity. Keeping our campus safe should be of concern to all.
• Parking lots and walkways are aging as well and should be resurfaced.
• The Early Childhood Education Center is over 30 years old, meant only to be temporary; it needs to be replaced to continue to provide childcare to our students and the community.

Mt. Hood community College makes it financially possible to get the workforce training or Degree people need to better support their families and climb above a minimum wage job. This in turn attracts big business and employers gain better employees. It all comes full circle; educated communities become financially successful communities.

Our college campus is beautiful and resourceful, but it needs and DESERVES our help to keep it that way.

Join us in support of Measure 26-83, to protect our most treasured investment – Mt. Hood Community College.

PLEASE VOTE YES ON MEASURE 26-83.

Mayor Paul Thalhofer, Troutdale

Mayor Chuck Becker, Gresham

Mayor Tom Potter, Portland

Mayor Mike Weatherby, Fairview

Mayor David M. Fuller, Wood Village

Gresham City Council

(This information furnished by Paul Thalhofer)

ARGUMENT IN FAVOR

Argument in Support of MHCC Bond Measure 26-83

I am a business owner in East County and am a strong advocate of improving economic development in this region. It has been 30 years since the college has passed a general obligation bond, and as the result, most campus buildings are beginning to fall apart. The college needs up-to-date facilities to educate the future workforce. Good businesses with family wage jobs will continue to come to East County if we invest in the college and provide a quality, educated workforce. Therefore, I strongly support Measure 26-83, and I hope you will do the same.

(This information furnished by Hiroshi Morihara,
Friends of Mt. Hood Community College)