Voters approved Bond Measure E June 3, giving the Contra Costa Community College District access to $450 million in bond money for renovations and construction of new facilities at Los Medanos, Diablo Valley and Contra Costa colleges.

Greg Enholm, Contra Costa Community College District trustee representing Ward 5, explained that there are two categories for using the money, modernization of existing facilities and new construction, and that figuring out the needs for each college is going to be the most challenging part of the process.

DVC and CCC have older buildings that will need to be torn down and replaced because they are less energy efficient and too expensive to maintain, whereas LMC will be primarily adding new space, Enholm said.

“The bond funds were disbursed based on the same funding formula that the district utilizes to disburse operating funds to the three colleges,” said LMC Vice President Kevin Horan adding that of the $450 million, LMC will be getting $85 million — $83 million will support campus projects and $2 million will go to the construction of a new District Police Services facility at LMC.

“The two major projects that Measure E will fund will be a new Student Union facility and the new Brentwood Center,” said Horan.

Previous bonds passed in 2002 and 2006 have already contributed to improvements in the district, including the new Student Services located in the college complex, which is currently under construction and is expected to open at the beginning of the spring semester in 2015.

“The transformation of the campus has been wonderful for the community and the students,” said LMC President Bob Kratochvil. “Students get a very welcoming environment.”

Kratochvil said he is thankful that voters approved bond Measure E and thinks the district is lucky to have such supportive residents in the county.

“We still have things to do,” he said.