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Mt. Hood Community College asks voters for $136 million bond to modernize facilities and expand CTE
Summary
MHCC officials briefed the Parkrose board on a $136 million bond measure set for a May special election. The college said the measure would modernize classrooms, expand career and technical education, improve safety and invest in sustainable infrastructure; MHCC estimated the tax impact at 25¢ per $1,000 of assessed value.
Representatives from Mount Hood Community College told the Parkrose School District Board that the college will ask Multnomah County voters in May to approve a $136 million bond to modernize aging facilities, expand career and technical education (CTE) and improve campus safety and sustainability.
Jennifer Bomer, vice president for advancement and community engagement at MHCC, and Andrew Spear, an MHCC board member representing Zone 3, said the college identified roughly $200 million in deferred facility needs during a multi‑year planning process and pared that list to a prioritized $136 million request after community consultations.
Spear said the measure would not fund new square footage but would renovate existing spaces, addressing seismic, HVAC, roof and classroom modernization needs. He said the tax rate would be about 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value (the college emphasized assessed value rather than market value when describing taxpayer impact).
Bomer and Spear highlighted four priorities for the bond: expand CTE aligned with local industry needs, modernize classrooms and labs, improve campus safety and accessibility, and invest in sustainable infrastructure to lower long‑term operating costs. Spear described a multi‑year planning and community engagement process that included dozens of presentations and focus groups.
The presenters said the bond would support allied‑health interdisciplinary training space and existing workforce training partnerships. They reported recent credentialing and workforce numbers for the college: 236 health‑related credentials over the past year, including 66 nursing credentials, plus other career‑technical completions (transcript numbers provided by presenters).
Spear also said Maywood and other MHCC properties would be eligible for renovations under the bond; he described the main campus as the largest share of the work because it has the most deferred needs.
Spear, who is co‑chairing the campaign, asked board members and community leaders for endorsements and said campaign volunteers can sign a simple endorsement form; he provided contact information for follow‑up.
Board members thanked the presenters and noted the potential benefits for Parkrose students who attend MHCC programs; no district action was taken on the presentation.
