The Barton Community College Board of Trustees held its Revenue Neutral Rate hearing and public budget hearing Tuesday, then proceeded to approve the 2022 budget as published in the Great Bend Tribune on July 30. No one from the public was there to comment at either hearing.

The Revenue Neutral Rate, 32.328 mills, is the mill levy that would bring in the same amount of tax dollars as the previous year. Barton’s proposed tax rate for 2021-2022 is 33.050 mills, approximately the same as last year, which in turn increases the tax request by approximately $236,362, Barton Vice President of Administration Mark Dean said. The county’s estimated valuation increased this past year, mainly due to the recovery of oil and gas.

Much like the other taxing entities, Barton receives approximately 95% of what is requested, due to delinquent and unpaid taxes. The mill levy request is based on the valuation estimate provided by the County on June 10.

Plumbing program approved

The trustees also approved a plan to offer a plumbing certificate program on the Great Bend campus. The program was originally approved to serve Barton’s correctional partner, the Larned Mental Health Correctional Facility. However, with the change in the Kansas Department of Corrections provider contract, the college has opted to shift this program to the campus. There is ample space to support the program due to the closure of the automotive program.

According to an executive summary of the proposal, the college will maintain the approval to offer the program at LCMHF with the hope it could support programming at both the correctional facility and the Great Bend campus in the future. 

According to O*Net, the state will see a 6% growth in the plumbing industry with a projected 620 annual job openings. Annual wages average $55,090.

The program will be taught for one more semester this fall at LCMHF, said Mary Foley, executive director of Workforce Training and Economic Development.

“We are currently planning on offering the program for the first time on campus starting in January of 2022,” Foley said. “To do that, we still need approval from the Kansas Board of Regents. We hope to have approval in November.”

There is one full-time faculty member who will make the transition from the correctional facility to the campus program.

The 16-hour plumbing program covers such topics are craft skills, safety, plumbing fixtures and fittings, and commercial drawing. After successful completion of the coursework, students will receive NCCER Level 1 Certification and an OSHA 10 card.

New Mission Statement

The board also reviewed its Crisis Communication Plan and its Strategic Plan, and approved a revised Mission Statement presented by Todd Mobray, director of Institutional Research.

The old mission statement was:

• The Mission of Barton Community College is to provide quality educational opportunities that are accessible, affordable, continuously improving and student-focused. Barton is driven to provide an educational system that is learning-centered, innovative, meets workforce needs, strengthens communities, and meets the needs of a diverse population.

The new mission statement is:

• Barton offers exceptional and affordable learning opportunities supporting student, community, and employee needs.

Personnel

Several new staff members were introduced at the start of the meeting. The board also approved the following new personnel:

• Dawne Hargrove – Customer Service Representative (part-time) (Ft. Riley Campus)

• Colvin Hooser – Student Services Specialist (part-time) (Ft. Leavenworth Campus)

• James Henderson – Instructor (Hazardous Waste Worker Training) (Ft. Riley Campus); contract

• Dianna Holguin – Instructor (Nursing) (Barton Campus); contract

Debt refinancing

Vice President Dean said the administration is looking at refinancing certificates of participation. According to the budget summary approved during the meeting, the college has $9,115,000 in outstanding indebtedness, which is the principle owned on lease-purchase items. Other BCC documents list these as construction projects from 2008, dorm construction/refinancing from 2013, and refinancing of certificates of participation for the library and the Technical Building in 2015.

If the debt can be refinanced at a lower rate, Dean will have a summary at the next study session for board approval in September.