The Board of Governors for Western Nebraska Community College has finalized the school’s budget for the coming fiscal year with a much lower property tax asking due to the change in community college funding in the state.
Out of a total operating budget of more than $65.3 million dollars, the property tax asking is $3.38 million, with that figure representing a two cent levy going specifically toward the capital improvements.
Because of the new funding mechanism involving state aid, WNCC President Greg Dart told us this year’s process was unique. “As our board got together to approve a budget, they were approving a budget that was different than any one that’s been done for years and years at the community college. But that budget represents about a 1% increase from where the budget was last year and like I said, about a 76% decrease in property tax collection,” Dart said.
Another driver of the lower tax asking was a 7.9 percent increase in overall property valuation in the 11 counties served by WNCC.
Dart says the new funding system now puts community colleges on par with the University and State Colleges, meaning administrators will need to seek even more efficiency in development of future budgets.
During an informal discussion prior to voting on the budget, Dart did note that $900,000 in reserves was used to help balance the budget’s recurring costs, something that will not be sustainable in the future. He said administrators were already going to start working on the next fiscal year budget.
