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 has eliminated low enrollment programs and
re-allocated funds in order to enhance academic support services and
technology access for our students."