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BTC tax levy to drop 4.1%

Blackhawk Technical College is asking taxpayers for less money in upcoming tax bills.

The BTC Board recently finalized its 2010-11 tax levy of $19.88 million, a 4.15 percent reduction from 2009-10.

Renae Ranguette, BTC vice president for finance, said the property valuation of the district, which comprises most of Rock and Green counties, dropped farther than expected, but the BTC board wanted to hold the line on taxes.

To make ends meet, the board agreed to take money from its operating fund balance, which had increased faster than expected in the past year.

Unprecedented increases in enrollment over the past two years brought in more state aid and tuition, which swelled the fund balance, Ranguette said.

“The college’s ability to take this action is due in part to ongoing efforts by the college to conserve resources under increasing enrollment,” according to a news release.

“The board and the administration felt that with the current economic situation in the district, it was best not to … put further pressure on the local taxpayers,” BTC President Thomas Eckert said in the news release.

Enrollment continues to remain high, something that surprised officials who had predicted a drop-off this year as training money for displaced workers began to dry up.

The district reports that as of Nov. 1, full-time credit enrollment at the college is up 3.54 percent compared with last year and up 46.7 percent compared with two years ago at this time.

Last year the owner of a $100,000 home paid $172.93 to support BTC, an increase of $2.44 from the prior year, according to the release.

“This year, that home was likely valued at $95,850, a 4.15 percent decline; with the owner of that home paying $165.75 this year, a decrease of $7.18 over the prior year,” the release stated.

Those figures are based on equalized values. Tax rates vary, depending on assessments in each municipality.

Blackhawk Tech represents the smallest portion of local property-tax bills.

Among the larger taxers, Rock County increased its levy by 2.99 percent. The city of Janesville is looking at a 2.3 percent increase but won’t finalize its levy until Monday. The Janesville School District’s increase is 3.17 percent.

All the information needed to calculate tax bills is not yet in hand. Taxes will vary by municipality and by a property owner’s individual assessment.