2010 Primary: OR Measure 69

May 18, 2010, Oregon Primary Election
Oregon State Measure 69

"...Referred to the Electorate of Oregon by the Legislative Assembly of the 2010 February Special Session..." OregonVotes.org

Amends Constitution: Continues and modernizes authority for lowest cost borrowing for community colleges and public universities.

The Way It Is Now
State bonds cannot be used to remodel campus buildings or buy buildings from someone else. Colleges and universities cannot use these bonds to pay for buildings that are used for both teaching classes and community service.

What Measure 69 Would Do
Measure 69 would let community colleges and public universities remodel campus buildings using state bonds. It would also let them buy buildings from someone else and build buildings that are used both for teaching and community service.

LWVOR.org

[X] Yes

"'Yes' vote continues and modernizes state authority to issue lowest cost bonds to finance projects for the benefit of community colleges and public universities." OregonVotes.org "People FOR This Say: The rules we have now about the use of state bonds for community colleges and public universities need to be brought up to date." LWVOR.org

[_] No

"'No' vote rejects modernization of authority to issue lowest cost bonds to finance projects for the benefit of community colleges and public universities." OregonVotes.org "No arguments in opposition to this measure were filed with the Secretary of State." OregonVotes.org "People AGAINST This Say: Oregon’s Constitution should not be changed everytime someone wants to do something with state bonds." LWVOR.org "...We think that any change that encourages the state to drag the taxpayers further into hock is a bad change. This is a time to pay off debt, not rack up more of it. And so we're voting no on both measures..." BoJack.org

The "modernizes" language irks me as heavy-handed. I doubt universities are currently bartering chickens and beads. However, I can't find anyone opposing this change, so I'll support it too.