Trustees Approve Tax Levy, Tax Abatement at Meeting

Parkland College's requested FY2023 tax levy is $32.2 million

The Parkland College Board of Trustees has approved the fiscal year 2023 property tax levy and abated the 2022 tax levy used to cover debt service.
 
Also during their regular meeting Wednesday, trustees received college foundation, campus-technology, and legislative updates.
 
In his monthly report to the board, Parkland College President Dr. Tom Ramage highlighted the college's reaccreditation evaluative visit from the Higher Learning Commission, which took place earlier in the week (Nov. 14 and 15). In a few weeks, the visiting HLC peer reviewers will give their report on how well Parkland College complies with HLC requirements. More information on Parkland's efforts in re-accreditation is available at parkland.edu/hlc2022. Ramage also noted the success of the college's Volleyball team, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the NJCAA DII Volleyball Poll. 
 
Amin Kassem, the college's chief information officer, then provided trustees an update on the Technology Strategic Plan and the status of information technology and cybersecurity at Parkland. Tracy Wahlfeldt, executive director of the Parkland College Foundation, also updated trustees on foundation activities. The foundation is in the midst of its fall appeal, seeking community support for scholarship assistance, securing vital resources for students and faculty, and improving technology at the campus. The final update, from Vice President for Communications and External Affairs Stephanie Stuart, summarized the latest news on state and national legislation affecting community colleges.
 
The board then called for a public hearing on the proposed property tax levy before approving it. Parkland College's requested levy is $32.2 million, about a 12.51 percent increase over last year's extension. The new amount would support the school's educational ($18.7 million), operational and maintenance ($7.2 million), protection, health, and safety ($2.6 million), and tort liability ($2 million) funds, among other expenses.
 
In addition, the Board moved to abate the tax levied for the year 2022 on the $5.86 million of general obligation bonds it issued to help fund the College Master Plan. The Series 2018C bonds are to be retired through revenues raised from a student facility fee.
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The Board of Trustees also approved the following items Wednesday:

• the bid from Mid Illinois Concrete Co. of Urbana for the reconstruction of the Fountain Courtyard, $2,658,790
• replacement of exterior entrance doors from Commercial Builders of Champaign, $970,000
• purchase of exterior lighting fixtures from Graybar Company of St Louis, $210,700
• an increase to the daily fees of the Parkland College Child Development Center by $1 to $3. The new rates, which would take effect January 1, 2023, will help ensure sustainability of the center's services.
• exempt purchases:
  • media services from Central States Media of Peoria, $60,000
  • media services from McKenzie-Wagner of Champaign, $50,000
  • campus cybersecurity consultant services from CampusWorks of Bradenton, Fla., $60,000
  • for Hendrick House Catering services for the Child Development Center from Dec. 1 through June 30, 2024, $50,000
• personnel appointments: 
  • Lesa Brandt, Director, Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, Parkland College Foundation
  • Joshua Houston, Maintenance Supervisor, Physical Plant
  • Hannah Hein, HR Specialist-Onboarding, Human Resources
  • Kevin Kogut, Director of Technology Client Services, Campus Technologies
  • Stacy Hobbs, HR Specialist-Benefits, Human Resources
  • Melissa Munster, Associate Director, Child Development Center
  • Andrew Henson, CBE Faculty, Applied Sciences and Technologies
  • Sarah Gamel Buck, Telecommunicator, Public Safety
  • Tucker Bowman, Accounts Receivable Specialist, Business Office
  • Alexandra Zahrn, Operations Assistant, Community Education
  • Lorraine Munoz, Academic Success Advisor/SWFT, Advising
  • Daniel Driscoll, Academic Success Advisor, Advising
  • Megan Wallenius, Academic Success Advisor, Advising
  • Kylee Reynolds, Access Control System & Dept. Specialist, Public Safety