Colby Community College lowers tax levy for ninth consecutive year

Colby Community College trustees approved a $37.4 million fiscal year 2027 budget on August 17 that lowers the college’s property-tax rate for the ninth consecutive year.

The budget sets an estimated tax rate of 38.713 mills, down from 38.897 mills last year. The college expects to levy approximately $6.25 million in property taxes, about $4,300 less than the previous year despite an increase in the district’s assessed valuation.

Since 2017, the college’s levy has fallen by more than 8 mills.

College President Seth Carter cautioned that the published expenditure figure represents the college’s maximum budget authority, not necessarily what it expects to spend. The total also includes projects carried over from the previous fiscal year and transfers involving capital-outlay funds that must be recorded twice under state budgeting rules.

Trustees approved the budget 6-0 following a public hearing during their Aug. 17 meeting in the Thomas Hall Board Room. No members of the public were present to comment.

The board also approved a new employment-based immigration sponsorship policy intended to help the college fill critical or hard-to-fill positions.

Carter said the college historically has not sponsored employees for immigration purposes, but administrators have identified a candidate requiring sponsorship for a position that has remained vacant for nearly two years.

The policy gives the president authority to approve sponsorships and requires the president to notify the board of each approval. It allows the college to consider programs including Optional Practical Training, STEM OPT extensions and H-1B petitions.

Administrators estimated that sponsorship could cost the college between $6,000 and $7,000, depending on the circumstances and legal requirements.

Trustees also authorized alcohol to be served during a Kansas Association of Community Colleges meeting scheduled for Dec. 3 on the Colby campus. College policy requires board approval before alcohol may be served on college property. Carter said no public money will be used to purchase it.

The board approved revisions to policies governing applicant travel reimbursement, conflicts of interest, employee promotions and records retention. The travel policy limits qualifying reimbursements to $1,000 per applicant per year, while changes to the promotion policy place greater emphasis on merit.

Administrators said the revised records-retention policy was shortened and reorganized to make it easier for employees to determine how long both physical and electronic records must be kept.

The board also approved adding Williams & Fudge Inc. as the college’s third collection agency. Carter said the company offers an alternative collection method and specializes in international accounts, an area in which the college has had difficulty recovering unpaid balances. The company will receive a percentage of the money it collects.

In campus reports, Executive Vice President Nikol Nolan praised employees for their work during student move-in weekend. She said 12 students were temporarily living in a hotel because campus housing was full.

Four of those students needed transportation, Nolan said. A college athletic team with three players at the hotel was helping provide rides, and students also had access to college employees and campus transportation assistance. The college plans to offer evening shuttles to Walmart during the opening weeks of the semester and maintains bicycles that students may check out.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Angel Morrison said classes were full, prompting the college to open another English section for high school students. The college also submitted its assurance argument and federal compliance report ahead of a Higher Learning Commission visit scheduled for September.

Vice President of Business Affairs Justin Villmer said most summer construction projects were complete. The renovated kitchen and Student Union were operational, although several finishing items remained.

Villmer also said implementation of the college’s new enterprise resource planning system was progressing, with approximately 95% of the data transferred. Employees are expected to begin testing reports and learning the new system after the college receives its first working version.

The Colby Community College Foundation reported that scholarship disbursements grew by $46,733, or 24.7%, between the 2024-25 and 2025-26 academic years. Foundation assets increased 18.2%, driven largely by new endowed scholarship funds.

The Foundation’s “Lights, Camera, Auction!” scholarship benefit has been moved from April 3 to April 17, 2027, to avoid a conflict with Colby High School’s prom.

Athletic Director Kenny Hernandez said the fall sports season was underway and introduced the college’s new coordinator of athletics and sports information director Brennan Harmer. Hernandez also said the volleyball team entered the season ranked No. 16 nationally.

Trustees reviewed updates to the college’s emergency operations plan and student housing handbook before accepting three employee resignations. The board later met in executive session for 15 minutes to discuss nonelected personnel.

The board then adjourned for the month.