NOTICE of Measure Election

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Portland Community College board has referred the following measure to voters in the Portland Community College District, in Clackamas, Columbia, Multnomah, Washington and Yamhill counties, at the 11/7/17 Special Election. Any registered voter dissatisfied with the Ballot Title may file a petition with the Multnomah County Circuit Court for review on or before 5:00 PM, 8/25/17. Any person filing a challenge must also file a copy of the challenge with the Director of Elections, 1040 SE Morrison St., Portland, by the end of the next business day after the petition is filed with the Circuit Court.

Ballot Title:

CAPTION: Bonds to construct job training space, improve classrooms, safety, technology.

QUESTION: Shall Portland Community College construct, expand, modernize facilities; estimated to maintain current tax rate by issuing $185 million in bonds? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.

SUMMARY: Projects expected to be financed with bond funds include:

  • Construction and improvements to provide students with up-to-date job training spaces;
  •  Acquisition of modern technology and equipment;  
  • Improvements to transit and disability access;
  • Projects to increase facility lifespan and efficiency through energy efficiency, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, and sustainability improvements;
  • Site improvements, demolition, furnishing, equipping, acquiring or purchasing land, bond issuance costs;
  • Modernizing the Portland Metropolitan Workforce Training Center;
  • Improving the Sylvania Campus Health Technology Building and Health Inter‑Professional Training Facility;
  • Constructing child care facility on Rock Creek campus;
  • Upgrading Cascade Public Safety Building and enhancing safety and security district wide.

If bonds approved, matching state funds of $8 million would be available to reduce overall cost to taxpayers.

PCC will conduct, issue annual audits to ensure funds used as intended.

Bonds would mature in not to exceed 16 years from issuance. Bond cost estimated to maintain fiscal year 2017 rate of 40 cents per $1,000 of assessed value.  Actual rates may differ and depend on interest rates incurred and assessed value growth.