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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us August 5, 2005 State to fund SOU/RCC for Medford building By Don Jepsen For the Tidings SALEM — The Legislature, hours from adjournment, gave final approval Thursday to a higher education bonding bill that includes funds for a joint Southern Oregon University/Rogue Community College education center in downtown Medford. The measure cleared the Senate on a unanimous vote. But it ran into stern opposition — described as being “too little too late” — in the House before passing 38-21. It now goes to Gov. Ted Kulongoski, who is expected to sign it. Under the legislation, SOU will receive $5.5 million in bonding authority, along with $3 million outright in state funding. SOU will have to come up with $2.5 million to complete its bonding match. RCC will be able to raise $4.1 million from education bonds. The rest will come from a $24 million RCC bond measure approved by voters in November. Rogue’s share for the joint center was one of six capital construction bond proposals totaling $38.5 million that were recommended. Eleven other requests for bond authorization didn’t make the cut. The selection process by Ways and Means was bitterly attacked during a House floor debate, as well as the $38.5 million outlay. “It’s insufficient. It’s too little and it’s too late,” said Rep. Vicki Berger, R-Salem. Berger said the two-year institutions have been slighted for too long, and now that the state is coming out of a recession and interest rates are at an all-time low, “we should do as much as possible to help kids who probably cannot afford four-year colleges.” Although she called the SOU/RCC building “a great project,” the overall effort was “pathetic and we should have done more, much more,” Berger said. “Not that I won’t take the $38 million, but it is grossly inadequate.” DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Generic Viagra Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Sportsbook Absinthe Supply Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations African Safari Hammocks Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino King of Spirits ink cartridges Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams