By Staff
Tuesday evening the Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees voted unanimously to ask residents of the college district for an operational millage increase next spring.
This request will effectively restore the approximately half-mill lost as a result of the Headlee rollback and provide for an additional one mill of funding.
If approved, this would be only the second millage increase in SMC's 40- year history.
According to college records, base state aid to SMC has fallen by more than $1 million over the last three years.
Also, State Economic Development Job Training (EDJT) funds to SMC for job training that amounted to approximately $650,000 per year in 2001 were zero last year.
Additionally, the millage reduction as the result of the Headlee Amendment has resulted in a decrease in the three mills previously approved by the citizens of the college district to only 2.54 mills.
The Headlee rollback currently costs the college more than $688,000 per year.
SMC President Dr. David Mathews notes, "SMC makes every dollar of revenue count. The college has aggressively contained costs by every available means, including a salary freeze for all employees during the 2003-2004 fiscal year, by increasing employee contributions to health care costs and by reducing the number of vice-presidents from five to three. The college eliminated low-enrollment programs and re-allocated funds o enhance academic support services and technology access for our students."
SMC officials noted that in the face of reduced state support, the needs of students, businesses and the community are increasing rather than decreasing.
According to SMC Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Fred L. Mathews, "In meetings and through surveys throughout the past year, our students, the community, and area businesses have told us in no uncertain terms what they need from their college in the coming years," continued Chairman Mathews. "With the restored and additional support, SMC will be able to meet those needs. With this support the college can expand the nursing and human services programs to provide more nurses, health care workers and human service workers for our region.
The date of May 3, 2005, was set by the board for the millage election.
In other business, trustees adopted a meeting schedule for the upcoming calendar year and adopted a resolution affirming that elections for trustees would continue to be held in the November general elections in even-numbered years.
Trustees also opened bids for a pickup truck for the maintenance department and bids for printing of 2005 class schedules.
The board authorized the administration to award printing contracts to the low bidder meeting specifications.
The board directed the administration to evaluate the truck bids and to bring a recommendation to the board at the January meeting.