When Connie Stinson, 42, decided she wanted to finish her degree in computer science, she enrolled in the school she'd already earned an associate's degree from: Casper College.

"I needed to get a better job," Stinson said. "Casper College has grown since 20 years ago when I graduated."

Growth is one of the primary reasons the college placed a $35 million general obligation bond issue on the November ballot. General obligation bonds are debt secured by the "full faith and credit" of the issuing government and backed by revenues from its taxing power.

According to a Casper Star-Tribune poll conducted last week, 53 percent of Natrona County voters plan to vote in favor of the bond issue. Mason-Dixon Polling and Research of Washington, D.C., interviewed 400 likely voters in Natrona County. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

The poll showed 33 percent of Natrona County voters opposed to the bond issue, with 14 percent undecided.

Jeff Muratore, 50, isn't in favor of the bond issue. It all falls back on how times aren't the greatest right now, Muratore said.

"They're going to tack that on to our property taxes, which have already doubled or more in the last five years," he said. "I'm generally not the kind of person that votes a tax against myself."

If the measure passes, the money will fund a new training and development center, a new music building and a new student union that will house the University of Wyoming/Casper College Center. Homeowners would end up paying roughly $18 a year in taxes per $100,000 of assessed valuation for up to 25 years.

In addition to the three main projects, the college wants to fund new residence halls, two major renovations and four demolitions.

All the projects are part of the college's "master plan," a 25-year blueprint for expanding the campus. The total project, including new residence halls, will cost roughly $105 million. The additional funds needed to pay for living facilities would come from other funding sources and not a bond issue.

Susan Anderson, with Casper College, said the poll results verify that the community generally supports the college growing. Trustees decreased the original bond amount from $41 million with the idea a lower amount would gather more support.

"That's very close to what our polling had shown earlier in the summer," Anderson said. "That was our effort, to be sure we kept [support] above 50 percent."

Stinson said she was in favor of the bond issue, a decision she feels won't place a burden on her family. The college plays a vital role in training workers for community businesses, she said.

"Casper needs workers in order for us to survive and keep growing at steady pace," Stinson said. "We need to be able to provide workers."

Reach education reporter Jasa Santos at (307) 266-0593 or at Jasa.Santos@trib.com.