Oregon Public Broadcasting

One of the biggest local votes in Tuesday’s election was a $41 million bond for Central Oregon Community College.

Voters of five central Oregon counties approved, by a 7-percent margin, a small property tax levy that will fund classroom expansion.

Last year, the same voters narrowly defeated a similar property tax measure.

Josh Budish is a pharmacology student and a member of the student government.

Josh Budish: “I think that a lot of the reasons why it passed this year, instead of last year, is that last year there was confusion about what the bond measure was. Also, with the bond measure this year, COCC will actually be getting more money.”  

By approving the $41 million bond, voters also won a $11 million state funding match.

The property tax increase amounts to about $20 more per year on a median tax bill in Bend.