Despite tight budgets, Mendocino College expanding

Like public colleges throughout the state, Mendocino Community College is cutting course offerings in response to budget cuts. But the cuts aren't stopping the institution from expanding its footprint.

Its main Ukiah campus is undergoing a remodel that includes a new, 42,582 square-foot library while new satellite campuses in Willits and Lakeport are in the works.

Expanding facilities as classes shrink may seem incongruous, but it's not, officials say.

"Because of the economy, it's a very good climate to be building something," said Meridith Randall, vice president of education and student services.

The college has enough money left from a $67.5 million bond measure approved by voters in 2006 to proceed, she noted.

The college has saved money on construction and land purchases because of the recession. The Ukiah campus library is expected to cost about $24 million, down from early estimates of $29 million, said Larry Perryman, vice president for administrative services at Mendocino Community college.

"We saved $5 million just because of the timing," he said.

That turned out to be a crucial because the state has since eliminated its matching funds for some of the projects, Perryman said.

The economic downslide also saved the college millions of dollars on the purchase of 31 acres for its new Lake County campus. The college purchased the land, located near Highway 29 in southwest Lakeport, for $1 million, about $2 million less than the landowner originally wanted.

Put off by an asking price, the college explored other location options, during which time the landowner lost the land to foreclosure, Perryman said. The bank offered the property to the college for $1 million, he said.

College officials expect the new library and resource center in Ukiah to be completed by the middle of next year. Phase one of the Lakeport campus - located near the existing, rented campus buildings - should be finished in December 2012. It's expected to cost $10 million and include three buildings totalling about 15,000 square feet. It will include classrooms, science, computer and music labs and an administrative and learning center, Perryman said.

Lake County officials are looking forward to opening day. "I'm ecstatic," said Lake County Supervisor Tony Farrington. It not only provides additional educational opportunities to Lake County students, it will give the area an economic boost, he said.

The Willits project is the smallest of the projects. It will be located on four acres near the current, rented campus. It's expected to be completed in 2013. Plans have yet to be drawn up but it's expected to cost about $6.5 million and include about 7,000 square feet of building space.