Measure 22-190

Caption:

Bonds for agricultural job training center, facility and safety improvements

Question:

Shall LBCC provide agricultural job training center; improve, update facilities; issue $16 million in bonds; with citizen oversight, audits required? 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 llb, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution

Summary:

Bonds would finance following capital costs, including:

  • New Agricultural Education Center
    • Classrooms/facilities for training in agriculture, crop and animal sciences.
    • Space for community events and classes.
  • Update Career Center at Benton Center in Corvallis
    • Expanded spaces for testing and career counseling.
    • Improve meeting rooms used by community partners.
  • Renovate Childcare Center at Albany main campus
    • Improve access to childcare for students and staff.
    • Learning spaces for early childhood education students.
  • Update, Repair Aging Facilities
    • Increase accessibility for people with disabilities.
    • Replace outdated boilers, HVAC systems.
  • Additional capital costs including site improvements, furnishings, equipment and bond issuance costs.

The Oregon legislature has approved $8,000,000 grant if District can provide matching funds. Matching funds to be provided by bond proceeds.

Bonds expected to mature within 15 years from issuance. Principal amount of bonds limited to $16 million. Estimated increase in tax rate is $0.07 per $1,000 of assessed property value. Actual tax rate may differ due to changes in interest rates and assessed value.

Linn Benton Community College Explanatory Statement

Founded in 1966, Linn-Benton Community College serves campuses in Albany, Corvallis, Lebanon and Sweet Home over a 2,966 square mile area.

Linn Benton Community College facilities face challenges:

  • College buildings are aging and in need of repair and require updates and upgrades, including heating, cooling, and lighting.
  • The current agriculture, crop, and animal sciences facilities lack space for hands on learning instruction and the flexibility to expand into programs and offerings that would best serve our Willamette Valley community.
  • There is lack of access to childcare for our students and staff. LBCC has identified a facility to resume operations but the building needs important updates and upgrades to meet industry standards for operations and safety.

After reviewing these challenges, the LBCC Board of Education voted unanimously to place a bond request on the ballot.

If passed, the bond would finance capital costs, including:

Construct a New Agricultural Education Center

  • Classrooms/facilities for training in agriculture, crop, and animal sciences.
  • Provide a modem arena for equine and livestock classes and events for our students and our community.
  • Include space for a multispecies program with state-of-the-art teaching and safety equipment.
  • Create a central location for our agricultural classes and program which will prepare students to enter the workplace or university for a bachelor's degree.
  • Generate space for community events and classes for our community partners like 4H, FFA, and equine groups.

Update Benton Center in Corvallis

  • Expand spaces for testing, career counseling to better meet the needs of our students without increasing staff.
  • Improve meeting rooms used by community partners per their requests.
  • Conduct needed repairs to the Benton Center such as repairing windows, sidewalks, and entryways.

Renovate Childcare Center at Albany Main Campus

  • Improve access to childcare for students and staff.
  • Bringing the center up to industry standards and providing early childhood education students with learning spaces that better prepare them for the workforce.

Update, Repair Aging Facilities

  • Update the HVAC systems on the main campus for more reliable heating and cooling of the buildings and increase the efficiency of our operations.
  • Continue Takena Hall student services renovation to better serve our students and to create a welcoming space for our very diverse student population.
  • Renovate our central courtyard to remove access barriers, increase safety and create a contemporary place for the students to gather, learn and host events.

Financials:

Bonds are expected to mature within 15 years from issuance. The principal amount of bonds is limited to $16 million. The estimated increase in tax rate is $0.07 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The actual tax rate may differ due to changes in interest rates and assessed value.

Bond to leverage state matching funds:

The District will receive $8 million in state grants if bonds are approved. If bonds are not approved, these funds would not be received.