UCC land deal: The numbers

MYRTLE CREEK, Ore. -- On Monday, KPIC News told you about the agreement Umpqua Community College officials made to buy land next to South Umpqua High School to build a regional training center.

Several emails and viewer comments on the KPIC Facebook page indicated that they thought the price of the land seemed high. "somebody is about to profit big time, on a piece of pasture land," wrote one person, while another asked, "Did UCC have this land appraised?"

So, KPIC News looked at the numbers.

College officials are purchasing the 18.37 acres (If the levy passes) for $535,000.

They are actually buying two separate lots. One is nearly six acres, and it's real market value is listed in county records as $169,650.

The other is a little more than 12 acres, and it's assessed at $362,115 dollars.

All together, the land's real market value is $531,765, meaning that UCC officials are paying less than $4,000 over market value.

College officials say they believe the deal is a good one. "From the point of view of the college, of course our biggest interest is to husband public money as effectively and efficiently as we can," said Bentley Gilbert, the college spokesperson.

The purchase will only take place if voters approve the bond levy for the college in the May election.