BTC budget boosts tax levy
The Blackhawk Technical College Board approved a budget with a 4.9 percent tax levy increase after a public hearing Wednesday.
No members of the public spoke at the hearing.
The board also approved a 1.5 percent raise for college President Eric Larson.
BTC Board Chairman Tom Westrick praised Larson for “going above and beyond” to lead the college through a year in which enrollments skyrocketed, the result of local layoffs and the weak economy.
The board also voted unanimously to give Larson a $2,000 contribution to his tax-sheltered annuity. Larson’s salary for the coming fiscal year will be $154,100.
The raise came after a closed-door session in which the board discussed Larson’s performance.
For a full story, read Thursday's Janesville Gazette, read online in the Gazette’s E-Edition or check back at GazetteXtra.com.
Jun 18, 2009 at 2:26 p.m.
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The tech schools are governed by an unelected board. Unlike the school districts funded by the property tax, and are elected by the public, BTC can spend freely without risk of a voter revolt.
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Your Congress spends tax dollars - and you elect them.
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Your legislature spends tax dollars - and you elect them.
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Your county, city, village and town governments spend tax dollars - and you elect them.
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Your technical college spends tax dollars - and you are forced to pay it, without a vote.
Jun 18, 2009 at 1:56 p.m.
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I wasn't aware either that the public could attend. There certainly is concern for President Larson receiving a raise in salary. Is a salary that was over $100,000 to begin with not enough to live on? At a time when this economy is in great hardship and the people are struggling financially, I would think the BTC board and President Larsen would have put any increase in salary on hold. Yet this man has the audacity to accept more money. Many of the students attending BTC are not financially well off. It really is quite disheartening that President Larsen would turn a blind eye to people who are on unemployment and trying to survive. I don't care how much President Larsen has "gone above and beyond"...many people have gone above and beyond what their job is because it needed to be done...it's called stepping up to the plate and not expecting compensation. And then to put $2,000 into his tax sheltered annuity. I would like to see my tax dollars go to educational programming....not his retirement.
Jun 18, 2009 at 1 p.m.
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I guess every one else has to share the pain. As far as nobody showing up, I wasn't notified. Since it's my tax levy going up, I should have got a letter in advance from Blackhawk. But that's not going to happen because people will show up.
Jun 18, 2009 at 10:59 a.m.
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Some instructors were worse than others. I had one that I had to go to the Dean to TWICE before anything was remotely resolved. I never had answers posted or anything like that. But I do know that some classes were like being in high school. Had I known then what I know, I would have went to a 4 year college.
Jun 18, 2009 at 9:35 a.m.
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I went thru a program at BTC. The gen eds are a joke, some teachers post the answers for tests or assignments on the board or come right out and tell you. I took a computer and class and only used the computer twice! The teacher just talked about his time in army. I could go on. If you are thinking about going to BTC you may want to research your options. I wish I did.
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