MONROE, Mich. – Monroe County Community College has reduced the amount of its 5-Year Maintenance and Improvement Millage request – which will be on the ballot in November – from .95 to .85 mills.
The reduction is in response to the inclusion earlier this month of funding in the state’s General Fund Budget Bill for a facility project that is one component of the millage request.
That bill, House Bill 5294, which was signed into law yesterday, includes funding for half of the $7.5 million cost of renovating the college’s East Technology and West Technology buildings. The college would be responsible for the other $3.75 million.
State Sen. Dale Zorn and State Rep. Jason Sheppard worked to ensure the funding was included in the budget for that project, which would re-purpose the existing facilities into useable classroom and laboratory spaces and for expansion of critical student support services delivered in an easily accessible location.
On Monday evening at its regular meeting, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to reduce the millage request by .10 mills, which decreases the amount the additional tax would cost taxpayers over 5 years by nearly 10 percent.
If approved, the additional tax would generate an estimated 4.83 million for the college in 2016 and would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $42.50 per year – less than 82 cents per week.
According to MCCC President Dr. Kojo A. Quartey, the 5-year Maintenance and Improvement Millage is necessary because of substantial losses in property tax revenue that have forced the college to delay many maintenance and improvement needs that are now critical to its future. Most of MCCC’s facilities were built more than 50 years ago, and several were built in the 1990s.
Funds would be used for projects throughout the Main Campus and at the college’s Whitman Center related to:
- Safety: Enhancing and improving safety and security across campus, including a door key card system, emergency lighting, security cameras and fire sprinkler systems.
- Accessibility: Bringing facilities up to standards for people with disabilities, including the Learning Assistance Lab, accessible restrooms, proper elevator access and door hardware.
- Technology: Upgrading technology network infrastructure, including updates to classrooms and the fiber optic network.
- Updating the Learning Environment: Renovating specific areas to maintain and improve the academic environment. These include the Library and various classrooms.
- Deferred Maintenance: Ensuring and maintaining the quality of campus-wide facilities through roof repairs and replacement of doors, windows, roofs and other outdated items.
For additional information about MCCC’s 5-Year Maintenance and Improvement Millage, including a complete listing of the projects it will cover, please go to www.monroeccc.edu/millage.