Bill Would Allow Two-year Schools To Seek Debt
by January 22, 2013 12:37 pm 75 views
The House Education Committee unanimously passed a bill today (Jan. 22) that would allow seven community colleges that are not part of a university system to ask voters for a millage increase to pay for construction bonds.
Senate Bill 4 by Sen. Bill Sample (R-Hot Springs) cleans up language in previous legislation.
Arkansas has 22 two-year schools whose missions are similar regardless of their names. The schools affected are Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville, East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City, Mid-South Community College in West Memphis, National Park Community College in Hot Springs, Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, North Arkansas College in Harrison, and Rich Mountain Community College in Mena.
Those schools currently can seek millage elections for operations.
Dr. Sally Carder, president of National Park Community College, said the legislation would allow her board to seek a 1.7 mill increase to pay for a technical college. Her school was built in 1973 with 500 students with two mills. It now educates about 4,000 students. However, because Amendment 59 automatically rolls back millage rates as property values rise, its rate is now .8 mills.
She said a local revenue stream would allow the school to build without having to raise tuition and fees.