LCC Florence Center Director Bob Purscelley, right, and science instructor Debby Anderson in the center’s current science lab, which would be improved, along with the campus’ exterior buildings, if Measure 20–142 is passed.

For the past 14 years, local taxpayers have supported Lane Community College with a 15-year bond. But with the bond expiring in 2009, the school is hoping the community will continue to fund its students’ educational experience.

“We’re really asking citizens to keep doing what they’re already doing,” said Mary Spilde, president of Lane Community College.

On Nov. 4, registered voters will decide the fate of Measure 20-142, an $83 million bond to fund facilities renovations, upgrades and remodels for workforce training and education at the college.

“This bond is all about renewal, renovation, upgrading and improvement,” Spilde said. “We are not planning on new construction, but rather replacing and improving the things we already have.”

The new bond would be for another 15 years with an estimated annual cost of approximately 25 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. If passed by voters, a $200,000 home would be taxed about $50 a year.

Currently, real property owners are paying the same rate for a 1995 bond. In 2009, the new bond rate would be assessed after the current bond is paid off by property owners.

“We’ve tried to be fairly strategic with the timing of this bond, so that the old one is paid off before we start levying taxes on a new bond if it passes in November,” Spilde said.

She said it is absolutely critical for the bond to pass in order to maintain services at the main campus in Eugene, as well as its branch locations in Florence and Cottage Grove.

Most of the infrastructure equipment, like boiler and air conditioning units and electrical wiring, is more than 40 years old and breaking down.

“They’re not ‘nice’ to have, they’re ‘need’ to have. ... They are the kinds of things that could close down the campus, and we can’t have that happen,” she said.

At the Florence center, the bond would pay for a new science lab and renovations to the exterior of the building. The total cost of the project would be $1 million.

According to Bob Purscelley, director of the Florence center, the current science lab is “basically a sink.” He said the lab comfortably seats one person, but with two people it becomes extremely crowded.

“Students don’t get full lab experience that you get at other places,” Purscelley said.

The Florence center currently offers six science courses per year with a student enrollment of about 75.

A few years ago, the Florence Advisory Board reviewed its long-term goals, which included the improvement of the school’s science labs.

“This has been a long time coming for us to try and get the possibility of having something like this approved,” Purscelley said.

If the ballot measure passes, the existing lab would be upgraded with new sinks and equipment to accommodate 10 to 13 students. The majority of the project would be completed within three years.

Purscelley said a spacious lab would be a big change for Florence students, but it would finally give them an equal educational experience.

“We want to train the workforce; we don’t want a workforce that’s not as highly skilled as other locations,” he said.

Spilde agrees.

“If we can allow students to take their science prerequisites for health profession courses (at the Florence center), we can hopefully give students an opportunity to do more of their education in Florence without having to come over to Eugene/Springfield,” she said.

With the economy in poor shape, Spilde understands that it is challenging for people to support another bond for Lane Community College.

This economic downturn, however, is exactly the time that people turn to community colleges, she said.

“We’re needed now more than ever if we want to retool and retrain people so that they’re ready for the next upturn in the economy, which we know will happen, and we just need to be ready for it,” she said.