College funding will benefit all of us

by Marci Smith, Chairman, BVCC Trustees; Terry Nelson, Chairman, BVCC Foundation; Terry Ryan, Vice Chairman, BVCC Foundation and Major Donor; Victoria Clark, Director, Bitterroot College, UM

In response to the March 2 letter from Mr. Hulse against the BVCC levy.

The Levy requested is 9.75, not 10.75. That is $13.16 per year per $100,000 of assessed taxable value on a residence. For example, a house that is tax assessed at $350,000 would pay $46.06 annually. That amount is per household, not per person. 

The BVCC budget is only administration heavy the first year. That is due to start up costs getting the new independent college operational — one time expenses. The budget proposed was as low as the college could make it and still meet all the requirements for independent accreditation. Any lower and the College’s accreditation application would be in jeopardy. There also was new state legislation in 2021 requiring the college to include funding for an adult/community education program in this levy request. That forced the levy to be a little higher than last time.

The author says salary and benefits are too high at $71,700 when the average income in Ravalli County is $58,800. But income does not count benefits. Benefits for the new college are 20% of the worker’s salary. Backing out that cost of benefits from $71,700 puts the average salary paid at BVCC at $57,360 – an amount $1,440 less than the County average! Moreover, the proposed college budget shows the average salary for BVCC employees eligible for benefits is $42,000. Where did the letter writer get his information? 

The new BVCC Foundation was formed to raise funds for capital campaigns and other future expenses. In less than one month it has already obtained pledges for $360,000!

Every student at the proposed independent college will have to pay similar tuition to what all students in this state pay for community college. Tuition caps are set by the state at about half the tuition paid by students at the state’s four year colleges. It is not something controlled by the local college. Thus the suggestion the college should make students pay more tuition is impossible. The college is a shared expense. The state pays a set amount for every full time enrolled student, the local property taxes pay an amount set by a levy and the students pay tuition set by the state. 

Wrong facts lead to wrong conclusions. The independent, locally controlled, Bitterroot Valley Community College is a sound investment for our community. Studies show that the tax dollars paid into a community college are paid back more than 6X just by the increased taxes paid by its graduates over their lifetime. The majority of graduates stay local, so once the college sets up its programs in the trades and medical certifications, it will relieve pressure on our overstretched infrastructure. Right now, getting a repairperson is nearly impossible and local  health care facilities are scrambling to find certified workers. An independent community college is our plan to fix this. Do you have an alternative plan? 

Visit  bvcommunity college.org  for more information on the BVCC levy request.