A $140 million facilities bond for Chemeketa Community College is passing in early May 20 election results. The same proposal was voted down last November.
According to results published May 22 for the May 20 election, Measure 24-513 was passing with 53.16% approval.
This compares to 56.7% voter opposition for an identical measure during the Nov. 5, 2024, election.
Votes were still being tabulated as of press time, with ballots scheduled to arrive at local county clerk’s offices through May 27. Counties have until June 16 to certify election results.
Measure 24-513 was put before voters in Marion, Linn, Yamhill and Polk counties. The largest degree of support came from Marion County where, out of 55,326 ballots cast, 55.66% voters were in favor.
Bond funding would allow the college to improve and expand buildings related to career and technical education (CTE) programs, as well as improve safety measures at all campuses. This includes building a new CTE Trades Center to address the local need for those trained in HVAC, sheet metal and similar apprenticeship programs.
The bond would also allow renovations to Building 7 to create a new Community Health Education Center & Resource Site. The bond would be paired with $8 million in state grants to re-develop Building 7 to also be used as a community resource and command center during natural disasters such as an earthquake
or wildfires.
The bond is projected to cost property owners $0.27 per $1,000 of assessed value over 21 years, which replaces an existing property tax at a similar rate. This would cost a property owner with a house valued at $300,000 approximately $81 per year.
