The Barton Community College Board of Trustees will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, in Room F-30 of the Fine Arts Building for a study session. This will be followed by a special meeting where trustees will discuss the proposed budget and tax rate for 2023-2024, as well as other issues.

In addition to reviewing the June financial statement, they will hear a report on economic impact from Todd Mobray, director of institutional effectiveness, and a report on the National Alliance of Two Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Daktronic Cup from Trevor Rolfs, athletic director, at the study session.

Although no action is taken at study sessions, the board has scheduled a special meeting, where action will be taken, following the study session. Items on the agenda are athletic insurance, the operational budget, the published budget, and an executive session.

Published budget

The college’s current mill levy is 30.081. The board will consider two options for the published budget, according to the information provided with the agenda.

Option A is a reduction of the mill levy to the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) of 27.959. In theory, this should raise the same amount of tax dollars as last year because Barton County’s estimated valuation increased approximately $31.9 million this past year, mainly due to increases in real estate and oil/gas valuations. Oil valuation is currently set at $70.

Option B includes a mill levy of 29.38. This lowers the mill levy from last year but is above the RNR. It will generate approximately $460,000 in additional tax dollars for Fiscal Year 24.

Whichever budget is published, the publication will announce a public budget hearing set for 4 p.m. Aug. 22 at F-30.

Operational budget

The board will also look at two options for the Operational Budget. The administration’s recommendation will be to choose one of these options, based on the board’s decision for the published budget.

Option A increases revenue by $1,749,378 over last year’s operational budget. Option B increases revenue by $2,183,640 with the extra $400,000 in local taxes.

Both options increase expenditures by $1,975,255 over last year’s operational budget. Both options include a 3% overall increase in regular employees’ salaries to maintain the market value level and cover new positions and positions previously unfilled.

Documents show Barton ended FY23 with a deficit of $1,116,426, which was taken from cash reserves. This deficit was expected and was the result of various changes that occurred throughout the year:

• Previously unfilled positions have been filled as well as a number of additional positions.

• New programs.

• Construction expenditures.

• Lower enrollment resulting in lower Tuition/Fees.

• Inflationary costs of all products and services.

Option A results in $1.5 million more in expenditures than revenue.

Option B results in $1.1 million more in expenditures than revenue.