MONROE - A Green County referendum on the Aug. 12 primary ballot will ask residents to increase the tax levy limit by $4 million for the 2014-2015 school year and thereafter for operational costs at Blackhawk Technical College.
According to Kelli Cameron, BTC director of college advancement and community relations, a "yes' vote will allow the college to add weekend and evening classes for part-time students; help fill vacant staff positions; and expand existing programs such as welding, computer systems technology, fire training and agribusiness. The money would be divvied up between new faculty positions, student and staff support, a flex account, a grant-writing position and installing a water main at the central campus between Janesville and Beloit.
If the referendum passes, it would raise the levy limit by $4 million a year indefinitely , said Dr. Tom Eckert, BTC president.
"We are asking to raise the base, but down the road if there is no need for the money, we could lower the mill rate in the future," he said.
Cameron said some of the monies would go towards creating new education programs on the Monroe campus. If the referendum passes, the campus could see new programs like paramedic, precision agriculture and agriculture power machinery and food production certification. Other programs, such as radiography, fire training, criminal justice and agribusiness, could be expanded, Cameron said.
Cameron said a vote to pass the referendum would not result in a tax increase for the average taxpayer since Wisconsin Act 145, passed by the state Senate in March, lessened property taxes. There was about $406 million in leftover funds that the Senate elected to put towards lowering property taxes for all taxpayers. Cameron said homes assessed at $100,000 would save $51 in taxes if the referendum passes. If the referendum does not pass, Cameron said taxpayers would see $76 savings on homes assessed at $100,000.
Eckert said the funds would be spread out to cover many different areas for BTC. About $1.8 million would go towards adding new full-time and part-time faculty as well as increasing lab assistants to accommodate a larger student body. Eckert said $740,000 would go towards increasing staff and student support through advisors and development in area high schools to prepare students to transition into college. He said the funds would help coordinate the process of students transitioning from high school to college to area businesses.
A sum of $180,000 would pay for a full-time grant writer and full-time grants manager, positions that would become self-supporting by creating grant opportunities for the colleges. Eckert said $850,000 would be set aside for future costs and unforeseen changes in area businesses. He said these funds would allow the college to react quickly to a new business in the area and offer curriculum changes to match what employers are looking for. He said these funds would also be used to match grant offers from the state.
The central campus wants a water main attached to the city of Janesville. The city of Janesville is paying to install the water main, and funds from an increased levy, starting at $300,00 per year, would go towards paying back the city until the water main is completely paid off.
According to Kelli Cameron, BTC director of college advancement and community relations, a "yes' vote will allow the college to add weekend and evening classes for part-time students; help fill vacant staff positions; and expand existing programs such as welding, computer systems technology, fire training and agribusiness. The money would be divvied up between new faculty positions, student and staff support, a flex account, a grant-writing position and installing a water main at the central campus between Janesville and Beloit.
If the referendum passes, it would raise the levy limit by $4 million a year indefinitely , said Dr. Tom Eckert, BTC president.
"We are asking to raise the base, but down the road if there is no need for the money, we could lower the mill rate in the future," he said.
Cameron said some of the monies would go towards creating new education programs on the Monroe campus. If the referendum passes, the campus could see new programs like paramedic, precision agriculture and agriculture power machinery and food production certification. Other programs, such as radiography, fire training, criminal justice and agribusiness, could be expanded, Cameron said.
Cameron said a vote to pass the referendum would not result in a tax increase for the average taxpayer since Wisconsin Act 145, passed by the state Senate in March, lessened property taxes. There was about $406 million in leftover funds that the Senate elected to put towards lowering property taxes for all taxpayers. Cameron said homes assessed at $100,000 would save $51 in taxes if the referendum passes. If the referendum does not pass, Cameron said taxpayers would see $76 savings on homes assessed at $100,000.
Eckert said the funds would be spread out to cover many different areas for BTC. About $1.8 million would go towards adding new full-time and part-time faculty as well as increasing lab assistants to accommodate a larger student body. Eckert said $740,000 would go towards increasing staff and student support through advisors and development in area high schools to prepare students to transition into college. He said the funds would help coordinate the process of students transitioning from high school to college to area businesses.
A sum of $180,000 would pay for a full-time grant writer and full-time grants manager, positions that would become self-supporting by creating grant opportunities for the colleges. Eckert said $850,000 would be set aside for future costs and unforeseen changes in area businesses. He said these funds would allow the college to react quickly to a new business in the area and offer curriculum changes to match what employers are looking for. He said these funds would also be used to match grant offers from the state.
The central campus wants a water main attached to the city of Janesville. The city of Janesville is paying to install the water main, and funds from an increased levy, starting at $300,00 per year, would go towards paying back the city until the water main is completely paid off.