Grayson County Bond Election

On Saturday, May 12, 2007, Grayson county voters will go to the poles to vote on a proposed bond to benefit Grayson County College. According to the Citizen’s Advisory Committee literature, the $44.79 million bond will go to basic renovation, a new career and technology center, an improved student center, and an addition to the fine arts building. The bond will result in a $34.77 annual tax increase for taxpayers who own a $50,000 home and $139.02 annually for those who own a $200,000 home, according to Committee literature.

The Grayson County College Board of Trustees created a Citizen’s Advisory Committee consisting of 40 members from throughout the county to make recommendations and review the current college facilities. The committee recommended the bond after reaching a consensus and it was unanimously approved by the Board of Trustees, according to Committee literature. “It’s just time to upgrade the college,” said Horace Groff, chairperson to the Citizen’s Advisory Committee. “And the people are the owners of the college.”

“The college has been on a long-term facility renewal plan. It was using a strategy to raise taxes about 1 cent-per-year until construction costs skyrocketed,” said Shelle Cassell director of marketing and public relations at Grayson County College. Cassell also served as liaison between the college and the committee.

Four initiatives make up the bond, in the first bond election since the college’s construction. The largest initiative of $19 million provides for basic renovations of old facilities and infrastructure. It will benefit the instructional buildings of the main campus and will update the plumbing, electrical, and heating and air-conditioning systems of the original college buildings, according to Committee literature.

The next initiative of $13.2 million will go to construct a new career and technology center for vocational training, according to Committee literature. “[This building] is helpful to local school districts if they can’t afford a vocational program,” said Cassell. Cassell said local high schools would be able to send students to the vocational school where they can earn high school credit while learning technical skills.

The bond will fund an addition to the current Fine Arts building. This initiative will cost $9.4 million. The addition will include a 500-seat theater, a 150-seat black box theater, additional classrooms, and an art gallery for students. Cruse Start Auditorium will also receive renovations, according to Committee literature.

Finally, $2.9 million will go to renovate and expand the student center. According to Committee literature, this initiative will provide space for more bookstore products and modernize food services for students. “Students need a place to interact and eat and study. A place to feel at home when they’re away from home,” Cassell said.

If the bond passes, college officials estimate that construction will take three to four years, Cassell said. “The passage of this bond will help the present and future students,” said Helen Hayes, committee member and Whitesboro resident.

The bond seems to have received very little negative response. “As far as I know, everyone is looking forward to the future it will hold [for students],” said Ashlee Anderson, Grayson College Student Government President and student representative on the community. “Our kids will benefit from it.”

Voting will take place on May 12, 2007, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Whitesboro precincts 19, 22, 24 through 26, and 28; Collinsville precincts 26, 28, and 31; Tioga precincts 30 and 31; and Sadler precincts 19, 22, and 24 through 26 should go to Whitesboro City Hall, 111 West Main Street, Whitesboro, Texas, to vote.