By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
BENTON HARBOR, MI – What would normally be a routine millage renewal has become at least a little bit controversial with Berrien County Republican Party officials coming out in opposition to two Lake Michigan College millage renewal requests on the Nov. 4 ballot.
The college is asking voters to extend two existing millages. The first millage proposal renews the .6655 mill levy for general operations for a period of 20 years from 2027 to 2046. The second millage proposal renews and reduces the existing millage for capital purposes by half to .24 mill for a 10 year period from 2027 to 2036.
If approved, the operating millage would raise $8.9 million in the first year and the capital millage would raise an estimated $3.2 million in the first year. Both existing millages were set to expire in 2026 without the renewal votes.
The operational millage currently provides nearly 20 percent of the college’s overall funding. The college’s overall budget is $44 million with a majority of funding–51 percent–coming from taxes, then 27 percent from tuition, 15 percent from state appropriations and seven percent from private sources and grants.
The capital millage can only be used for building and safety improvements and college officials say the millage if renewed would go to replacing the ventilation system at the Mendel Center as well as making security improvements and meeting Americans with Disabillities Act improvements.
The Mendel Center work is estimated to cost $10 million with the current ventilation system past its time for replacement. Overall, the college has over $240 million worth of buildings and assets that need upkeep. The college also wants to invest in safety and security measures in this age of increasing school threats.
The Berrien County GOP’s statement on the LMC millage proposals makes seven claims including their view that the proposals represent a $250 million new tax on all Berrien County homeowners to pay for services that only benefit a few.
They stated their belief that LMC funding should come from students, parents and businesses that the college benefits and not from homeowners with no connection to the college.
The GOP also took issue with LMC’s decision to build dorms and serve students who do not live in the area. They also questioned why out of state and out of college district students pay the same tuition rate as county residents. They also pointed to statistics that show LMC’s enrollment is declining.
The final point raised by the Berrien County GOP was that several LMC administrators including Kubatzke and Pscholka are contributing to the ballot campaign committee. They questioned why administrators being paid by tax dollars and a bank that does business with the college are among those paying for the campaign to promote the millage renewals.
LMC President Trevor Kubatzke and Vice-President Al Pscholka took issue with the Berrien County GOP’s decision to oppose the two millages. They said the Berrien County Republican Party’s claims are false and misleading.
Kubatzke and Pscholka countered the GOP’s claims, saying that LMC programs benefit everyone in the county, that many of those who live in the college’s dorms are local residents and that enrollment in the college is not declining.
As for their contributions to the ballot campaign committee, they said they used their personal money and are among hundreds of local residents supporting the campaign.
Kubatzke said the college has worked to keep its tuition rates low while continuing to expand its programs and offerings to the community. The college currently serves 4,400 students in 80 programs on three campuses in Benton Harbor, Niles and South Haven.
Pscholka added that college officials made the conscious decision to reduce the capital millage rate. “Families are struggling in an uncertain economy, that’s why we decided to reduce the millage rate,” he said.
They said that the college would have to make significant cuts to programs, services and staffing if the millage renewals would fail as they would lose $9 million in funding. They noted that LMC has continued to offer more and more programs, whether it’s early college classes and apprenticeships or nursing and the law enforcement academy.
They said one of main services they provide the area is educating young people and giving them the career training they need to get good jobs here in Berrien County. “Many of those who have to travel out of the county for their education don’t come back after graduating,” Kubatzke said.
“The number one issue for our county is population,” Pscholka added. “We heed to have an educated workforce to attract and retain people. We work with businesses to build the talent base. An educated workforce makes a difference when it comes to economic development.”
They pointed out that LMC has been ranked the number one community college in Michigan and also ranks number 13 in the country. They said an independent study put the college’s social/economic impact on the area at $371 million annually.