Mt. Hood Community College Bond Measure Gets Support

The board of directors of the Portland Business Alliance is throwing their support behind a proposed $125 million bond measure put forth by Mt. Hood Community College.

“The Alliance is a long-time supporter of Portland-metro’s community colleges, including Mt. Hood Community College, which plays a critical role in East Multnomah County’s education infrastructure,” said Sandra McDonough, president and CEO of the Portland Business Alliance.

The bond would cost homeowners approximately $31 per $100,000 of assessed value each year.

All the money would go to the college with money being spent on seismic upgrades, improving disabled access, rebuilding and expanding the Maywood Campus, and adding a new workforce and applied technology center on the Gresham campus.

The last time that voters approved a bond measure for Mt. Hood Community College was 1974. Voters have rejected four measures since then.

The college, which opened in 1966, has more than 25,000 students studying in more than 120 degree and certificate programs.

The bond needs a simple majority of voters to pass.

If it does pass, it will be the second largest bond measure approved for a community college in Oregon.

Voters in Portland approved a $374 million bond for Portland Community College in 2008.