Kitzhaber backs bonds to build on campus
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CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Looking to reinvest in infrastructure, Governor Kitzhaber wants legislature to pass a bond program to make it happen.
If passed, the program would mean $68.5 million goes to Oregon State University.
Sherman Bloomer of the Office of Budget and Planning at OSU thinks that the investment would be a huge benefit to the campus.
"This is tremendous, I mean we've been working towards this for some time in trying to grow our enrollments," Bloomer said.
Money from the bonds would pay for half of a new OSU classroom center and a $20 million chemical and biological engineering building near the Linus Pauling Science Center.
A quarter of the bond money would expand the OSU campus in Bend.
Bloomer said that rapidly rising enrollment numbers is the driver for building new spaces on campus.
"We've been really stretched to find good quality space to schedule enough sections," said Bloomer.
The classroom center and quad would be built next to the mid-campus soccer field.
It would be the biggest installment on campus, with half the funding paid for by the university and private donations.
"The chemical, biological, engineering building has matching funds from donors and the Benton community has stepped up and put in $4 million in private funding already," Bloomer said.
While the bonds are still pending approval, many people around campus seem excited about the move.
"More buildings will mean we can take more students. The classrooms are getting pretty crowded, and as an engineer I'm always happy for more science buildings," said Christy Kmierim, an engineering student.
"I like it. I think that we need the buildings and we need the space for the people that work here," said staff member Charlotte Rooks.
Bloomer said that construction for any of the projects is about two years away.
The governor also recommends that some of the bond funding go to expand the EMU at the University of Oregon.
We need a new Gov. the Kitz waist more money than he is taking in...How about the convict gary what's his name that wanted to die and went to court to get the OK and the Kitz stepped in and stopped it MONEY WAISTED. He's
going to have to do better than this in my eye's.
If you want to âshore-upâ infrastructure, how about fixing some streets, or using the money to do other necessary repairs, rather than giving it all to the colleges: Iâm not against them, but there are other, MUCH more needed infrastructure repair that is more important. Our dams are in dire need of repair. If there is a major earthquake, they will take out property and lives.
Roads, highways, sidewalks, streets, dams, streetlights, water and sewage systems and pipelines, etc. All these are more necessary than what is being proposed, and far older and in need of repair. I would like my tax dollars to go toward something of more importance and for the safety of all.
@angelgabe  Say What? On all the commercials on ch9 says Corvallis is very nice with their shops downtown and all nice eating places. lol
 @Ah Shucks I am speaking to the entire State of Oregon, not just Corvallis. Remember that our bridges were in such disrepair after that one in the East killed so many, that they had to repair them ALL? THAT is the same state that all of the mentioned areas are in now, and they need to be addressed before we go and spend millions on a college. We need that money to go where it will  do the MOST good for the MOST people: the safety issues regarding our deteriorating systems that have not had serious updating since they were put in place, decades ago. (the meaning of infrastructure:Â
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, It can be generally defined as the set of interconnected structural elements that provide framework supporting an entire structure of development Wikipedia)
Many of the degrees they are foisting are of no value in the private market, I know lots of hungry engineers, that do not work in their fields.