THE C L A C K A M A S P R IN T
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N O V. 5, 2 0 1 4
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V O L . 4 8 ISSUE 4
by Tim Young
lackamas County voters passed a $90
million bond measure to maintain,
update and build onto the Clacka
mas Com m unity College’s presence
in the community.
C
“If I were texting, I would ‘OMG,”’
said Joanne Truesdell, the college president.
Founded in 1966, the college’s m any facilities are out
of date, run down and costing more m oney than they
need to due to inefficiencies. The bond will build a new
comm unity center and new classrooms for in-dem and
fields such as engineering, nursing, manufacturing,
welding, apprenticeship programs and skilled trades.
CCC Board o f Education chairperson Greg Chaimov
said the passage of the bond measure will result in “a
whole lot better facilities for training students to get
high wage jobs.”
The bond measure actually raises $ 111 million because
of state matching grants and private donations.
"If I were
texting,
I would
'OMG.'"
Campus spokesperson, Janet Paulson, left, President Joanne Truesdell, and campaign consultant
Marcia Latta, await results at The Bomber in Milwaukie on Tuesday night.
The college last passed a bond in 2000 for $47 million,
which paid for work on about a half dozen buildings on
campus. In 2011, voters rejected a $130 million m ea
sure.
Ever since, the college has been trying to figure out how
to pass a measure.
This campaign has been visible o f all over the county:
billboards, ads on buses, buttons on teachers, flyers all
over school and an organized web presence. W hen
asked what was different about this campaign, Shelly
Parini, dean o f college advancement, said, “We really
knew we needed to go out and have some deep, m ean
ingful conversations with the community”
At press time the measure was passing with 52 percent
of the votes in favor, and 48 percent opposed. Clack
amas County residents are not expected to see an in
crease in taxes, as it replaces an expiring bond. For a
hom e owner with a property value of $250,000, paying
for the bond would am ount to approximately $47.50
yearly.