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WISCONSIN RAPIDS – During the Mid-State Technical College (MSTC) Board of Directors meeting held Monday evening at the Wisconsin Rapids campus, the board reviewed the proposed 2007-08 budget. Nelson Dahl, Vice President of Finance, presented an overview with highlights in the general operational budget. According to Dahl, tax rates are expected to be slightly less than the current fiscal year. He said several budgetary and fiscal objectives guide the college’s budget development process. “The focus of the 2007-08 budget proposal is to maintain viable academic programs and services, manage fluctuations or reductions in other funding sources, meet capital investment needs and debt service requirements, set a supportable tax levy target and maintain a sound financial and fund balance position.” Dahl said the $37.7 million proposed budget contains the resources necessary to maintain the college’s strategic directions and accomplish its annual goals.
With property tax as MSTC's major source of funding, Dahl said the college is estimating an overall tax rate of $1.48, assuming a 6% increase in equalized valuation. "The proposed budget's real dollar impact on area taxpayers is expected to be relatively minor as the annual tax on a $100,000 home will be $148.51 for MSTC services, a reduction in the previous year’s tax bill of $1.50. This is the sixth consecutive year that MSTC has created a tax rate decline.” He added that MSTC will maintain a considerably lower impact than other taxing jurisdictions because the college serves a broader tax-base consisting of 97 municipalities.
Dahl said several of MSTC’s funding issues span multiple budgets and fiscal years. “Significant funding factors for the college include enrollment fluctuations, rising health insurance costs, diminishing state aid, rising student tuition and fees, the need for economic recovery in our communities, and of course, minimizing taxpayers’ burden.”
The Board authorized administration to publish a public notice to announce a public hearing on the
2007-08 budget. The public hearing will be held Monday, June 18 at the Wisconsin Rapids campus, 500 32nd Street North, Wisconsin Rapids, and will begin at 5:00 p.m.
In other action, the board also approved a 3.85% merit pool increase for union-exempt employees.
In other news, the board received an update on several new educational partnerships. According to Dr. Sue Budjac, Vice President of Academic Affairs, MSTC has added or expanded its transfer agreements with UW-Marshfield/Wood County (UW-M/WC), UW-Stevens Point (UWSP), UW-Platteville (UWP) and Lakeland College. “Our new General Studies Partnership with UW-Marshfield creates a unique transfer opportunity for MSTC students. This agreement is a groundbreaking model for the two educational systems in several areas, including an integrated admissions and financial aid process and agreement.” Budjac said the agreement allows MSTC students to transfer up to 36 credits to UW-M/WC. She said the partnership provides an excellent option for students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree at about a third of the cost. “Students can complete their first two years at MSTC and UW-M/WC and then transfer to a four-year college or university in Wisconsin.”
Additional educational partnerships include the following:
- Articulation agreement with UWSP for the Early Childhood Education program: This agreement allows students from MSTC and Northcentral Technical College to continue their academic progress to the university system in a seamless manner. “Upon graduation students now have smooth access to a bachelor's degree so that they may pursue expanded career goals as elementary or early childhood public school teachers,” said Dr. Budjac.
- Criminal Justice Articulation with UWP: Presently, MSTC offers associate degrees in Criminal Justice that provides students with the foundation they need to be a police officer or to work in corrections. According to Dr. Budjac, city and local police agencies are increasingly requiring degrees beyond the associate degree for entry-level law enforcement positions. Currently UWP accepts up to 30 credits that are applied to the general education coursework. “Our new agreement facilitates an additional transfer of credits from the Criminal Justice programs at MSTC to the Criminal Justice Bachelor of Science Degree at UWP.”
- Additional Interwoven Degrees Created With Lakeland College: MSTC now has eleven interwoven degrees with Lakeland College. These include Accounting, Administrative Assistant, Business Management, Criminal Justice-Law Enforcement, Criminal Justice–Corrections, IT-Network Specialist, IT-Programmer/Analyst, (each IT program includes a technology path or a business path for students), Marketing and Supervisory Management. “The interwoven degree programs reflect MSTC’s commitment to meet student and employer demand for increased access to high-quality educational programs. Students can simultaneously attend both colleges and earn their associate and baccalaureate degrees without worrying about transfer credit and at approximately the same cost as attending a four-year state university. And, they can do all of this at an MSTC campus,” said Dr. Budjac.
The next Mid-State Technical College Board of Directors meeting will be held on Monday, June 18, at the Wisconsin Rapids campus. Committee meetings are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., a public hearing on the proposed 2007-08 budget at 5:00 p.m., with the regular board meeting immediately following the public hearing.
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