ECC board candidates talk tuition, taxes

Keeping taxes and college tuition low in the years ahead will be challenging, say candidates running for the Elgin Community College board April 7.

Incumbents Bob Getz and Donna Redmer, and challenger Jeffrey Meyer are vying for two 6-year seats on the board.

Starting this fall, ECC's tuition will increase from $114 per credit hour to $119. That amounts to roughly $3,600 for a full year's tuition.

"We are a bargain," said Redmer, of Dundee Township, a retired educator completing her first term on the board.

Of 39 community colleges statewide, only 14 have tuition lower than ECC, which also is below the state average, Redmer said.

"There are many ways we can assist students more," Redmer said, adding that teaching college-level credit courses in high school would save students time and transportation costs. "We can go teach there. Many of the high school teachers can teach colleges classes."

Redmer doesn't see a need for a property tax increase. She said the college board has maintained a balanced budget and a AAA bond rating.

Meyer, 33, an Elgin attorney, said with Gov. Bruce Rauner's proposal to cut state funding of public universities by almost one-third, community colleges could be next in line on the chopping block.

Students seeking cheaper options than four-year universities could lead to enrollment increases at ECC, prompting a need for tuition increases if the property tax base remains the same, he added.

"If you have an expense and can't get it from the state appropriations and (with) the property tax cap, increase in tuition might be the only option," he said. "Instructional expense in the budget has doubled in the last 10 years."

Meyer said making sure students aren't taking courses they don't need and teaching credit courses off-site could reduce the college's instructional costs.

"The greatest challenge financially is student-owned debt," Meyer said.

The property tax cap limits how much the college can increase its tax rate - up to 5 percent or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.

Meyer also doesn't support a tax levy increase.

"Elgin Community College has continually increased its property tax levy in recent years by the maximum amount permitted under applicable tax caps," he said. "During this time, other area taxing districts, including Kane County and the city of Elgin, have been able to maintain a flat levy or actually decrease their levy."

The college also has increased its bonded debt by $178 million since 2009, quadrupling its debt burden, he said.

Getz, 72, of Elgin, a retired Harper College administrator who has served 12 years on the board, said he would work with fellow trustees to lower the college's tax rate by paying off more debt.

He said he also is concerned about local students being displaced because of an increase in international student enrollment at ECC.

"We are importing students from China and overseas. We can't turn into a University of Illinois," he said. "We have to remember that this is a community college serving the community. The opportunity to share educational experiences with a worldwide student body is an excellent goal, but we need to remember that our college is funded by our local communities for the education of our local students."