St. Clair County Community College will ask voters to renew a half mill for college operations. At their December 19 meeting, the SC4 Board of Trustees set an election date of March 25, 2003 for the renewal vote.

Presenting the resolution to the college board last night, SC4 President Dr. Rose Bellanca said, "The college needs this funding to continue offering the quality programs and services the community wants and needs from us."

Bellanca talked about the college's role in the community. "More than 9,200 people enrolled at SC4 this year, and over ¾ of our students are from St. Clair County. We also provided training for 79 area businesses in a year's time. Ninety-six percent of our graduates are either enrolled at four-year colleges or employed, and most of those graduates are employed locally," Bellanca said.

"This college has a big impact on the day-to-day lives of St. Clair County residents. Our graduates are the nurses and teachers and businesspeople that make this county strong. They're the core of St. Clair County's workforce," said SC4 board member Norman Beauchamp.

"We are not asking for more money from county residents. This is not a tax increase, it's a continuation of existing funding and a continued investment to provide quality programs and services for St. Clair County," Beauchamp added.

Because of Headlee amendment rollback requirements, the renewal request will actually be slightly less than half a mill. The millage would raise an estimated $2,400,000 annually for the college.

Bellanca said a public opinion survey conducted in September showed the college has touched many lives in the county. "Eighty one percent of the people surveyed said that someone in their household had taken courses or workshops through SC4," Bellanca said. "That's really a powerful statement about the value of this college."

The ½ mill operational millage would be renewed for a four-year period, 2003 -2007. It was originally approved by voters in 1999. The college also has a charter millage of 1.5 mills that was established in 1967.

The ½ mill works out to fifty cents per $1,000 of taxable value, or about $25 a year in property taxes for a home with a market value of $100,000.