CCC operating budget approved, tax levy lowered again
The Central Community College Board of Governors has approved an operating budget for 2023-24, which includes a fifth straight decrease in the property tax levy for the 25 counties served by CCC.
By News Channel Nebraska
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. – The Central Community College Board of Governors has approved an operating budget for 2023-24, which includes a fifth straight decrease in the property tax levy for the 25 counties served by CCC.
The property tax levy was set at 8.5391 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, down from 9.0273 cents in 2022-23.
“I am pleased that the CCC Board of Governors chose to reduce our levy by 7.9 percent after seeing valuation increases of 8.9 percent across our 25-county service area,” said CCC President Dr. Matt Gotschall. “It demonstrates our conservative values while allowing a modest increase in tax funds collected for reinvestment into our high-quality faculty as well as repair and improvements of our educational facilities located throughout central Nebraska.”
The total operating budget for 2023-24 is $65,023,525, which is an increase of $2,494,535 from the 2022-23 budget. The college will plan on drawing $1,000,000 from reserves.
In addition to local property taxes, other revenues include state aid, tuition and those tied to the bookstores and food services affiliated with CCC.
Additionally, the college has budgeted $10,885,109 in the capital improvement fund, a $422,131 increase from 2022-23, and $415,000 in a fund for removal of hazardous materials and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a $2,263,762 decrease from 2022-23.
Property taxes are based on property valuations for the 25 counties served by CCC, which reported an increase in total valuation of $5,175,189,504, or an increase of 8.97 percent.
Total budgeted disbursements and transfers for Central Community College in 2023-2024 will exceed $128 million.
“The CCC Board of Governors is dedicated to providing quality programs for all students, and equally committed to maintaining cost effective spending that doesn’t overburden our property tax supporters,” said Rita Skiles, board chair.
Gotschall also credits the Grand Island City Council for approving up to $500,000 of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for infrastructure improvements to CCC-Grand Island.
“CCC appreciates the Grand Island City Council recognizing the powerful partnership through helping theGrand Island Campus grow to assist in meeting increased workplace demands and to recruit more college-age students to live and work in central Nebraska,” said Gotschall.
Grand Island Mayor Roger Steele said earmarking the city’s ARPA funds for CCC-Grand Island is both the right thing to do and a wise investment in the future.
“We depend upon Central Community College to provide training for our citizens and many of those people who are trained at CCC take high-paying jobs here in Grand Island,” Steele said. “Investing in education always provides great returns for our community.”