A brand new law might finish the “flat” mill levy for BCC

Barton Community College has kept its grinder levy virtually unchanged for 12 years, said Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman. The tax rate remained at around EUR 33 million, which meant that the amount raised fluctuated as property valuations went up or down.

At a study meeting of the BCC Board of Trustees last Tuesday, Vice President of Administration Mark Dean explained how a new law, Senate Bill 13, limits additional tax revenues unless a disclosure process is followed. If a budget is not “revenue neutral,” the tax authority (in this case the college) must notify the district clerk and taxpayers receive a postcard notifying them of a public comment deadline.

“That doesn’t stop the board from changing the mill levy,” explained Dean. “The board of directors could vote in favor of not being sales-neutral.”

The same rules apply to townships, library boards, the county and the towns, Dean noted. “The catch is, you don’t want to be the only one on the map.”

“The mill levy has remained constant over the past 12 years,” Heilman told the trustees. “If you keep doing that, you’ll be sending postcards every year.”

SB 13 has also changed the date by which the board must file their tax request, Dean said. The county is due to notify the college of the estimated ratings by June 15.

looking ahead

Dean said he expected a net tax hike of $ 5,000 on the current mill levy, largely because the oil valuation was $ 23 last year and is now $ 38.

Tuesday’s report has been described as a “very tentative” budget review for next year. It includes an additional $ 91,094 for salaries and an additional $ 135,000 for benefits.

“That includes (restoring) positions that we left last year and that we plan to fill this year,” said Dean.

The preliminary budget is also between $ 3.6 million and nearly $ 4.1 million for additional items.

“I guarantee you, not all of these things will be funded,” said Dean. Items on the list:

• $ 730,997 to $ 1,130,000 to increase the salary budget by 3-6% for regular wages and 10% for additional instructors

• $ 1,726,000 more for facilities

• $ 600,200 more for athletic inquiries

• $ 539,294 more for academics

• $ 16,500 more for student support

• $ 55,000 more for public relations

In addition to property taxes, potential challenges to be planned are also a likely decline in enrollments on campus, which will lead to lower income from tuition fees and tuition fees. Dean noted that federal COVID-19 aid funds are limited to specific uses and that 50% of the dollars must be returned directly to students.

Dean said the budget review also showed a $ 680,495 increase in state aid, but added, “This is not an actual state aid increase. Last year we were told there was going to be a cut, so we put a 10% cut. “The planned reduction for fiscal year 21 did not take place.

The final result of the provisional budget for Fiscal Year 22 provides:

• $ 31,854,706 total revenue, up $ 983,995 from fiscal year 21

• $ 33,094,829 total cost, $ 1,311,349 more than fiscal year 21

• The result is expenses that exceed income by $ 1,240,124