Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the bond?
The bond is for $92 million. The money will go toward updating, renovating, and building new state-of-the-art facilities to support Chemeketa’s 64,000 students located in three counties on five campuses.
What will it cost taxpayers?
If the 2008 bond levy is approved, annual costs to homeowners will be 27 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Keep in mind that assessed value is usually much less than the sales value of a home. Therefore, if the bond passes, a person owning a home assessed at $150,000 will pay $40.50 per year, which is less than what many pay for just one month of phone service. Visit our cost page
Where does the money go?
Just under half of the bond money will go toward building new facilities, while the balance will be used for renovation, upkeep and replacement of a portion of the 35 temporary structures. Twenty four percent of the bond will finance a new health sciences building that will facilitate the nursing, dental and pharmacy tech programs at Chemeketa. The new industrial technology center will receive 17%, and 6.5% of the bond will go toward building a new emergency responder training facility in Brooks. In addition, during this phase, environmentally sensitive upgrades will allow for an increase in energy efficiency, saving tens of thousands of dollars annually. With this measure, we will be able to replace approximately 60,000 square feet of modular space with 180,000 square feet of state-of-theart facilities in Salem, McMinnville and Brooks.
Why is it so important to pass the levy?
This levy enables Chemeketa Community College to provide the community with a trained workforce. New buildings funded by the bond will allow Chemeketa to match current workforce needs with student training programs that include working with cutting-edge technology in environments similar to those in the workplace. The measure also will free general operating funds to be used for improved instruction rather than building renovations and upgrades. If passed, the bond will meet the demands of students, the community and its ever-evolving workforce.
What are some of the biggest challenges Chemeketa is facing in the next five years?
Chemeketa will be challenged to keep pace with high-demand occupations such as nursing, public safety, and career and technical programs. These programs provide vital services to all communities. That will put pressure on Chemeketa and other community colleges to make room for these students and find ways to make college affordable for them. The ever-changing economy drives our efforts to continuously be the community’s resource for training and retraining of people who lose jobs and want to go back to school.