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BCC cuts mill levy; no tax increase for 2023
DuBose named head coach for softball
BCC-welcome-sign

No Revenue Neutral Rate hearing was needed Tuesday at Barton Community College because the college is not seeking more tax dollars in 2023 than it did in 2022. The BCC Board of Trustees did hold a public budget hearing Tuesday. With no one asking to speak, the board closed the hearing and approved the budget as published in the July 20 issue of the Great Bend Tribune.

As reported in July, the budget includes a reduction in the tax rate of 2.142 mills, which in theory should raise the same amount of tax dollars as last year. Barton County’s estimated valuation increased this past year by approximately $19 million, mainly due to increases in real estate and oil/gas valuations.

The mill levy request is for 30.951 mills, compared to 33.093 mills for 2021-2022. The amount levied last year was just over $9 million.


New personnel

In other business Tuesday, the trustees approved new personnel. The following people are at the Barton County campus unless otherwise noted:

• Sheila Smither – Enrollment Specialist, Fort Riley Campus

• Victoria Gonzales – Assistant Track & Field coach

• Jeanette Libal – Career Advisor (Correctional Education)

• Kylie Dean – Assistant Athletic Trainer

• Kimberly Heinz – Human Resources Technician

• Jamie Fager – Administrative Assistant

• Gary Lewis – Groundskeeper

• Jonathan Jones – Groundskeeper

• Sayde Fitzgerald – Nursing Instructor, Pratt Campus; contract

• Zeth Harper – Campus Safety Officer 

• Sara Martinz – Enrollment Services Support Specialist

Two additional employees are changing positions and will be contracted employees. They are Carson DuBose, head softball coach, and Maggie Harris, chief communications officer.


Reports/upcoming events

The board also heard reports on academic integrity at the college, strategic planning and contingency planning.

Upcoming events include Saturday’s 43rd annual Big Benefit Auction for the Barton Foundation at 6 p.m.; a learning celebration at the Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility at 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 12; a Great Bend Chamber Coffee and ribbon cutting for the Barton Carpentry/Plumbing and Welding Shops at 9 a.m. on Oct. 13; and a Great Bend Chamber After Hours at Camp Aldrich at 5 p.m. on Oct. 20.