UCC approves putting levy on ballot
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WINCHESTER, Ore. -- The Umpqua Community College Board of Trustees has approved the school to put a bond levy on the May ballot.
If passed, it would bring in $40-million to the college along with $17-million by the state.
The money would be used to construct two new buildings on campus for the nursing school and industrial arts.
It would also allow for a new facility in South County, along with the renovation of existing classrooms. "We hope that it would be a significant impact for job development for the county, for workforce development for our hospital technology employers," said Dr. Joe Olson, UCC President. "For our students that choose to transfer, they would be receiving classroom instruction in state of the art laboratories."
The levy would add 29¢ per $1,000 of assessed property value if passed by voters on May 15.
Doctor Olson says the South County facility, which would be placed in Myrtle Creek, could be a big asset for high school students as well. "Talking with a couple of school districts down there, we hope to enhance duel enrolment, we hope to provide some technical vocational training that districts are no longer able to provide," he said.
Officials say they would make a big effort to use local contracts for the majority of the construction just like they did with the new Lang Center. During that project, 87% of the labor and materials came from companies in Douglas County.
