FSCC Trustees adopt budget with increased mill levy

Loretta George/Tribune photo Gerald Kerr was one of seven citizens who spoke Monday evening during the Fort Scott Community College public hearing for the proposed 2013-14 budget. Also pictured are, from left: Mark McCoy; Jim Sather, Clayton Tatro and John Kerr. Attending the meeting but not pictured were John Bartlesmeyer, Dick Hedges and Robert Nelson.

An estimated 30 people came to the budget meeting of the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees Monday. Some were FSCC college students, but others were constituents wanting the board to not raise taxes who did not get what they hoped for.

The Board voted 5-1 to adopt a budget with a mil levy lower than what the trustees were presented for 2013-14.

FSCC President Clayton Tatro gave comments before the budget hearing, comparing FSCC with other community colleges.

"FSCC's current mill levy, 25.36, is nearly what it was in 1999...the county level funding provides 22.9 percent of revenues with the state average at 38.1 percent," Tatro said. "FSCC's county levy is only 69 percent of county levy of four other Southeast Kansas community colleges...our students shoulder 41 percent of the revenue at FSCC, the state average is 26.2 percent. There has been a 59 percent tuition increase since 2003-2004."

The board then heard the comments from constituents, who were allowed three minutes each for their comments.

Options such as cutting salaries, looking closer at miscellaneous purchases and others were put forward.

Trustee Mark McCoy told the board that many citizens asked him not to be in favor of a mill levy increase.

"I'm in much angst about these things," he said, then later stated, "I don't know how we can move forward without an increase."

Trustee Jim Sather said the board didn't want to raise taxes, but increases in costs and decreases in revenue cause a problem.

Trustee John Kerr made a motion to keep the mill levy at last year's amount, saying many in the community are struggling financially.

That motion failed, with all the board but Kerr voting no.

Following more discussion, Trustee John Bartlesmeyer made a motion to decrease the proposed budget to $2,681,167, which would be about four mill levies.

This was down from the proposed 2013-2104 budget that the board had originally came to the table with. That budget asked for a 5.91 mill levy, or $2,961,050.

The motion passed with every member but Kerr, voting yes.