Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC’s $450 million bond measure passes in a landslide

Photos and story by James Hill

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, taxpayers in the Portland metro area rallied behind Portland Community College and voted in favor of passing the $450 million bond measure.

PCC President Dr. Adrien Bennings acknowledged the hard work by staff and volunteers who helped to pass the bond measure 26-224 with more than a year of planning and execution. As per latest results by Ballotpedia, PCC’s bond measure passed with 61% of the vote.

“My deepest thanks to each of you for the work that you do every day in service of our students,” Bennings said. “Our greater community recognizes your dedication and compassion. Voters understand how the success of PCC students contributes to a thriving economy once they have graduated and are in the workforce. For all of these reasons, PCC was given a ‘thumbs up’ by voters to continue its good work!”

The voter-approved bond will support students regardless of their zip code, background, or family circumstances. Funds will update technology and equipment to provide students with modern higher education and job training opportunities, and upgrade classrooms and technology to provide more options for hybrid learning so students have the flexibility to balance class schedules with transportation, jobs, and family responsibilities.

In addition, the bond construction will update existing facilities at the Rock Creek and Sylvania campuses to ensure classrooms and student spaces are modern and set up for flexible learning; expand technical education in Washington County; increase facility lifespan, efficiency, health, and safety through heating and cooling upgrades; improve ventilation, plumbing, and electrical; update campus lighting; and increase access for people with disabilities.

“We thank the voters for your continued support of one of our area’s greatest assets: our community college, its dedicated employees, and all of our students who are doing their part to make the greater Portland community a better place to live and work,” said Bennings.

Added Tiffani Penson, chair of PCC’s elected Board of Directors,

“When we support PCC, we’re supporting our region. The passage of this bond measure enables PCC to provide our community access to affordable higher education and job training. Together, we’re helping PCC students get the skills they need to secure better paying jobs to keep up with the growing cost of living in the Portland metro area.”

PCC is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and provides training, degree and certificate completion, and lifelong learning to more than 50,000 full- and part-time students in Multnomah, Washington, Yamhill, Clackamas, and Columbia counties. Its district encompasses a 1,500-square-mile area in northwest Oregon and offers two-year degrees, one-year certificate programs, short-term training, alternative education, pre-college courses and life-long learning.