JANESVILLE - The Blackhawk Technical College Board of Directors made public its plan to maintain the 2009-2010 mill rate for the 2010-11 year at their regularly scheduled October meeting, according to a statement from the college.
By maintaining the mill rate, the total tax levy will decline by 4.15 percent, based on the district's equalized property valuations. The plan was approved unanimously by the college board. The college's ability to take the action is due, in part, to on-going efforts to conserve resources, despite increasing enrollment.
Full-time credit enrollment is up 3.54% compared to last year; and up 46.7 percent compared to two years ago at this time. Head-count enrollment is up 10.9 percent compared to last year; and 47 percent compared to two years ago at this time.
"The College has experienced significant enrollment increases since the fall of 2007 and has weathered that storm well," said Lauri Steeber, the board's chair. "However, despite the fact that enrollment continues to go up, the board felt it was important to hold the mill rate at the current level for this year and continue the aggressive cost-saving measures implemented."
President Thomas Eckert agreed. "Due to careful fiscal management, aggressive pursuit of grant funding, additional tuition due to enrollment increases, and use of reserves, the college is able to absorb the 4.15% decline without impacting quality," he said.
"The Board and the administration felt that with the current economic situation in the district, it was best not to raise current mill rate and put further pressure on the local tax payers."
The 2010-2011 mill rate, tax rate, and tax levy are, by State Statute, required to be set in October of each year by Blackhawk Technical College.
The State provides the equalized property valuations - upon which the local tax rate and tax levy are established - to the College by Oct. 1 each year. The College creates a draft budget at the beginning of the fiscal year (July) on a "best guess" of property valuations, and then adjusts once actual figures are provided in the fall.
The College received the certification notice regarding the 2010 equalized values of the District on Oct. 6, 2010. For purposes of establishing the mill rate, the College used the equalized values which exclude the Tax Incremental Districts (TID) equalized values and the equalized value for exempt computers.
The 2010 equalized valuation for the District as a whole is $11,501,174,128 (excluding the equalized value of Tax Incremental Districts and exempt computers). This is a decrease of $497,636,598 or -4.15% below last year.
Last year the owner of a representative $100,000 home paid $172.93 in taxpayer support for BTC, an increase of only $2.44 over the prior year.
This year that home was likely valued at $95,850 or 4.15% decline; with the owner of that home paying $165.75 this year, a decrease of $7.18 over the prior year.
By maintaining the mill rate, the total tax levy will decline by 4.15 percent, based on the district's equalized property valuations. The plan was approved unanimously by the college board. The college's ability to take the action is due, in part, to on-going efforts to conserve resources, despite increasing enrollment.
Full-time credit enrollment is up 3.54% compared to last year; and up 46.7 percent compared to two years ago at this time. Head-count enrollment is up 10.9 percent compared to last year; and 47 percent compared to two years ago at this time.
"The College has experienced significant enrollment increases since the fall of 2007 and has weathered that storm well," said Lauri Steeber, the board's chair. "However, despite the fact that enrollment continues to go up, the board felt it was important to hold the mill rate at the current level for this year and continue the aggressive cost-saving measures implemented."
President Thomas Eckert agreed. "Due to careful fiscal management, aggressive pursuit of grant funding, additional tuition due to enrollment increases, and use of reserves, the college is able to absorb the 4.15% decline without impacting quality," he said.
"The Board and the administration felt that with the current economic situation in the district, it was best not to raise current mill rate and put further pressure on the local tax payers."
The 2010-2011 mill rate, tax rate, and tax levy are, by State Statute, required to be set in October of each year by Blackhawk Technical College.
The State provides the equalized property valuations - upon which the local tax rate and tax levy are established - to the College by Oct. 1 each year. The College creates a draft budget at the beginning of the fiscal year (July) on a "best guess" of property valuations, and then adjusts once actual figures are provided in the fall.
The College received the certification notice regarding the 2010 equalized values of the District on Oct. 6, 2010. For purposes of establishing the mill rate, the College used the equalized values which exclude the Tax Incremental Districts (TID) equalized values and the equalized value for exempt computers.
The 2010 equalized valuation for the District as a whole is $11,501,174,128 (excluding the equalized value of Tax Incremental Districts and exempt computers). This is a decrease of $497,636,598 or -4.15% below last year.
Last year the owner of a representative $100,000 home paid $172.93 in taxpayer support for BTC, an increase of only $2.44 over the prior year.
This year that home was likely valued at $95,850 or 4.15% decline; with the owner of that home paying $165.75 this year, a decrease of $7.18 over the prior year.
