Rogue Community College Wants to Meet Public Demand with a $60.3 million Bond

MEDFORD, Ore. — Rogue Community College has voted (Tuesday) for a $60.3 million bond measure to be placed on the November ballot. The bond will fund several programs at RCCs Jackson and Josephine County campuses.

If approved, the bond will finance:

• The introduction of an automotive program at the Tabe Rock campus
• The creation of an EMT and diesel technology program at the Redwood campus
• Upgrades to the Riverside campus success center and classrooms
• Improvements in accessibility, lifespan and safety at all three RCC campuses

The Bond Will Enhance Programs and Resources

The bond will also be utilized to enhance accessibility, safety, and infrastructure lifespans at RCC campuses in both counties. Protagonists say that by enhancing programs and resources, both RCC campuses will better serve the community.

The bond measure needs a 50% plus-one majority by both communities to pass.

Property Taxes Will Fund the Bond

The bond will be financed by levies on property taxes.

There is an existing RCC 2016 bond in place in Josephine County until 2036, which translates to raising property taxes by $36 annually for properties worth $400,000.

Property rates will not be increased in Jackson County because the existing 2005 RCC bond will soon expire.

The Bond Addresses Significant Growth in Demand

RCC President, Randy Weber says the bond initiative addresses a significant growth in demand from the communities. He says challenges posed by the pandemic will be met and programs experiencing record enrollment will be achieved.

Weber says one of the reasons for the bond is to meet the community desire for the RCC to serve as a workforce provider.  He says the bond will finance targeted programs for which there is a growing need in the community.

The RCC president explains that the bond will meet some of the challenges posed by the pandemic which the Board has had to face. He says while college enrollments have stabilized to pre-pandemic numbers, the programs targeted by the bond address subjects achieving record enrollments.

Weber says the RCC will have to find ways to introduce some of the programs, even if the bond is unsuccessful.

Takeaways

If the bond is approved by the Board, it will be sent to the Jackson and Josephine County elections offices to be placed on the November ballot.

Apart from the $60.3 million raised by taxpayers, the Jackson-Josephine District will receive $15 million in matching funds from the state but will have to raise that amount to receive the funding.