TCC asks you for $50

[sgrizzle]

quote:
TCC seeking bonds, tax hike

by: APRIL MARCISZEWSKI World Staff Writer
2/27/2008  12:00 AM

Tulsa Community College is asking the average Tulsa County home-owner to pay about $50 more a year to back a $76 million capital bond issue and finance a property tax increase of 1.7 mills.

The two requests will go before voters May 13.

"This is really about growth of the college," President Tom McKeon said.

Academic programs have waiting lists, the college needs more professors, and it needs more money for operations, he said. The extra income would go toward associate-degree programs that prepare students to immediately enter the work force.

TCC wants to accommodate a student body that has grown 18 percent in the past nine years and expand programs that prepare students for in-demand professions, such as health care, McKeon said.

Bond issue: The college last requested a bond issue in 1999, for $18.3 million to be paid off over five years. A 10-year, $11 million bond issue was approved in 1989. The newly proposed bonds would be paid off in seven years.

The bond revenue would provide money for construction projects on all four TCC campuses and would pay $16 million for a new "learning center" in Owasso.

The learning center would be smaller than TCC's campuses and would be adjacent to a forthcoming Tulsa Technology Center campus, McKeon said.

Metro Campus: The bond issue would provide $3.54 million to finish the Center for Creativity, which is under construction and mostly funded, and buy equipment. This would provide more space for distance learning, digital media, graphic design, video production, journalism, Web design and broadcast production programs, according to TCC.

Also, for the cost of $4.08 million, TCC would remodel and equip an existing building to expand programs for physical therapy assistant, dental hygiene, radiography, occupational therapy assistant, sonography and medical office administration.

Northeast Campus: TCC would use $13.5 million to buy land and build facilities for fire and emergency services, first-responder training, community preparedness and homeland security programs. The city of Tulsa also is contributing to the fire training center.

West Campus: TCC would spend $5.95 million to expand, remodel and equip buildings for the early child development program, according to TCC.

Southeast Campus: The bond issue would provide $10.1 million for a computer lab and student support center for biotechnology, interior design, accounting, information technology management and marketing programs, according to TCC. Also, parking would be expanded at a cost of $1.2 million.

The remaining $21.57 million would provide for any cost increases because of rising prices of construction materials and any other contingencies, said Lauren Brookey, TCC's vice president for external affairs. State law requires the college to specify how it will spend 70 percent of bond revenue.

Property tax hike: TCC last asked voters for a higher millage rate in 1994, Brookey said. Property owners pay 7 mills to TCC now. A mill is $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value. A person with a home assessed at $100,000 would pay $17.04 more a year with the increase. TCC estimates, based on current property values, it would receive $7.9 million more because of the increase.

Almost a third of TCC's annual budget comes from local property taxes. This year, it is an estimated $31.3 million.

The tax increase would allow TCC to hire more professors; expand academic programs, including emergency preparedness, nursing and allied health, business and management, and early childhood development; and start new programs, including cardiovascular technology, management leadership, information technology convergence, air traffic controller and process technology, according to information from the college.

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080227_1_A1_spanc26771

[waterboy]

Yeah, glad to see an emphasis on education and all that. TCC just does not give me warm fuzzies anymore. After seeing them devour the downtown area around them and overlay it with asphalt so that it more resembles the burbs, I started to lose that sense of rah rah comaraderie. Ever used their application process for employment? Archaic and reaking of nepotism and "friends" networking.  I have a BBA from a state college and after trying for a couple years, couldn't even get an interview...for anything. Heard the same from others. Gave up and moved on.

Important to make good pr with the folks that pay your overhead and give you a place to sprawl before you reach into their back pocket fo mo money.

[swake]

I don't care for TCC either, they flattened blocks of downtown and are largely responsible for blocking OU-Tulsa and OSU-Tulsa from offering lower division classes.

If they would let OSU Tulsa offer 1st and 2nd year classes they wouldn't need any more space.

And if OSU Tulsa was allowed to offer lower classes and wanted a tax hike I would vote yes.

[sgrizzle]

I like TCC but do believe they could use some overhaul work. Taking the same class at different campuses should not involve different curriculum and books. They need to combine their management. Put a dean of every division at central and assistant deans at the outlying campuses. I was employed by TCC at Southeast Campus for 5 years and when I asked about working at Metro or Northeast, I found out I basically had to apply as if I was someone from off the street.

[cannon_fodder]

I am a big fan of education and nearly always vote in favor of funding education.  New buildings, more parking, and many other pet projects do not necessarily do anything for education.  They make the campus nicer (which in the case of a competitive institution can attract the caliber of students you desire) but they do not by themselves always improve education.

In this instance, I don't know enough about TCC nor their needs to make an educated statement (I know what the article said, but every government institution always needs more money).  But we have been giving them a lot of funding lately and they have been on a bit of a building boom at all but their North campus (what's going on with the new downtown structures anyway?).  I want to know what we are getting out of the investment.

Is the increase in student loan educating people who then take jobs in Dallas or KC?  Are they graduates who go to TCC to avoid getting a really real job (no offense, but many community college programs are like out patient high school.  Not passing judgment on TCC because I don't know specifically, just sayin')?  Or are they going to TCC to take jobs in Tulsa, or at the bequest of employers, or to CREATE or attract new jobs fro Tulsa?  I would be interested in seeing a non-TCC funded study showing their impact both economically and otherwise in the area.  

An educated workforce outperforms a non-educated or less-educated workforce.  They start more companies, attract better employers, and usually diversify to hedge against recession (at oil bust atm would destroy Tulsa's manufacturing base).  An educated workforce usually earns more and can sustain new developments, more travel, cultural and entertainment items.  In essence, an educated workforce can help build the Tulsa we want to see.

[sidenote:  educated does not mean a doctorate or even a BA.  A machinest who has an associates in industrial design or a tool and dye maker who is certified is a huge bennefit to the employer.    A mechanic who has taken a few business courses is more likely to succeed if he strikes out on his own.  You get the drift]

If TCC is educating our workforce and strengthening our economy and more money will help that.  Give them all they need.

[Friendly Bear]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

I like TCC but do believe they could use some overhaul work. Taking the same class at different campuses should not involve different curriculum and books. They need to combine their management. Put a dean of every division at central and assistant deans at the outlying campuses. I was employed by TCC at Southeast Campus for 5 years and when I asked about working at Metro or Northeast, I found out I basically had to apply as if I was someone from off the street.

Their duplicative building binge has lined the pockets of the usual local construction company cabal.

I'm voting NO.

[dsjeffries]

quote:Originally posted by Friendly Bear
Their duplicative building binge has lined the pockets of the usual local construction company cabal.

I'm voting NO.

Surprise, surprise.


Construction downtown: they have gravel and some other stuff in place.

[guido911]

Voting no here. I pay enough property tax and am tired of subsiding public education.

[citizen72]

Aren't they giving away free tuition?

[TheArtist]

As they have it split up between the campuses, each campus is really getting a small amount. When I look at what other cities and colleges around the country are investing in their colleges... this is a piiiitifully small amount.

As for where the students go, you cant control that with any college. But if you dont have the affordable college here, its more certain that more people here will either not get educated or will move away.  

If you dont like the surface parking downtown, I am sure TCC would LOVE structured parking.... IF your willing to pay for it. []  And remember they are getting rid of at least one of their parking lots with the new building.

Yes I too would love to see OSU Tulsa grow. Here is hoping the state allows us those new degree programs. As for OSU not doing the first 2 years. TCC metro is very close and why would we want to pay for duplicate programs instead of the 4 year programs we didnt have? We still dont even have enough 4 year and graduate programs or funding for them at OSU Tulsa imo. I would much rather spend any monies on more graduate programs there... IF we are allowed to even have them.

BTW saw an article about how the US is in desperate need of more engineers. Showed the states that were educating them and those that were not. Most were not and of course Oklahoma was a "not" state. Sounds like a decent niche Tulsa could work on filling.

Btw. Yes I am a proud TCC grad. [8D]

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by citizen72

Aren't they giving away free tuition?

Yes, TCC is free for local students.

[cannon_fodder]

+1 on Engineers Artist.

Also MDs (anyone else LOVE the Tulsa World article on OKC hording public hospital money?).

Also a good point on not controlling where they go.  I understand that but imagine the programs should/could be/are geared towards local job markets.  Subsidizing nuclear scientists wouldn't help Tulsa at all, MDs, engineers, machinists, artists (of course:) and myriad of other programs do.   bah!  You get the drift.

[Double A]

Not this time, sorry. I thought the lottery was supposed to alleviate the need for these tax increases.

[Kiah]

Why is no one talking about this election - three weeks away?  They're proposing to raise property taxes another 1.7 mills.  (TCC already gets twice as much of the property tax as city streets.) If the streets proposal involves another 3.3 mills, as has been discussed, everyone will raise holy hell and talk about starving grannies, but this barely gets a glance?

[Double A]

They are trying to get it passed by keeping it under the radar. I'll make it a point to vote no.