August 2002 Board Meeting Report

The Illinois Valley Community College board of trustees Wednesday passed a tentative $14.6 million operating budget and formalized plans for three referenda in November.

Assumed passage of the referendum on November 5 played a significant part in the budget planning, said Frank Papke, Vice President of Business Services and Finance. Papke said the fiscal 2003 budget shows a 7.7 percent increase over the previous year or a total increase of $1,053,258.

Papke estimated passage of the referenda would increase IVCC’s revenue by $750,000 in fiscal 2003 while resulting in only a small increase in property tax bills, about $20 per year to the average homeowner or $8 per year for a 160-acre farm.

Overall in the new budget, many revenue sources are down and expenses are up, Papke said. Combined losses in state apportionment, corporate personal property replacement taxes and investments are expected to exceed $300,000, he said. Tuition revenue will be up an estimated $180,000 due to a $3 per hour tuition increase, Papke added.

The 2003 budget marks the eleventh straight balanced budget the college has submitted, President Jean Goodnow said. Board chairman Bill Franklin, Jr., and trustee Kris Paul commended Goodnow and the IVCC staff for putting together a balanced budget "under trying times."

The total 2003 budget, including all federal and state grants, life safety projects and other funds, is $30,687,000.

The proposed budget will be available for public inspection in the college library for 30 days and a public hearing will be held on it at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, prior to the board’s next meeting.

The board also formalized referenda plans. The college will ask voters for a 12.5-cent increase in the Education Fund tax rate; a 2.5-cent increase in the Operations and Maintenance Fund tax rate; and, authority to sell $16 million in bonds for matching funds for the construction of the Community Instructional Center, replacement of eight temporary buildings, infrastructure improvements, information technology equipment and classroom equipment.

Goodnow said if the Education and Operation and Maintenance fund increases are approved it would be the first increase in those funds since the college was established in 1967. IVCC’s 17 cent operating fund tax rate is the second lowest of 39 state community college districts, she added.

"Enrollments have more than doubled since 1967. From the infants in our day care center at the Ace Hardware Distribution Center in Princeton to the hundreds of senior citizens we provide meals for each day through Project NOA — we now serve over 15,000 district residents each year. With voter support on Nov. 5 we will be able to maintain the programs so many people have come to depend on," said Goodnow.

The board also:

  • Approved the hiring of nursing instructor Debra Tostovarsnik and English/literature instructor Tara Coburn. The board also learned of the hiring of instructional technology specialist Tom Schultz.
  • Approved replacement of air-conditioning system compressors in Buildings A, B, C, D and E at an estimated cost of $471,225.
  • Approved a new elevator for the gymnasium at an estimated cost of $312,000. The elevator will enable IVCC to comply with state accessibility standards and Americans with Disabilities guidelines.
  • Approved replacement of a 30-year-old boiler in Building E at an estimated cost of $215,500 and replacement of the pre-heat and pre-cooling coils in air handlers in all main campus buildings at an estimated cost of $155,200.
  • Authorized bids for the printing of the spring 2003 schedule of classes.
  • Approved the annual joint educational agreement between IVCC, Black Hawk, Carl Sandburg, Heartland, Illinois Central, Spoon River and John Wood colleges.
  • Conferred degrees on 162 August graduates. Paul said she noticed a number of former LTV Steel workers in the list of graduates.
  • Goodnow reported enrollment was up nearly 5 percent in both head count and in credit hours this fall.