Post by gatormom on Apr 2, 2009 9:23:01 GMT -5
Lawmaker: If community colleges go 4-year, they shouldn't collect taxes
John Patterson Senior State Government Editor
4/1/2009 5:45 PM
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=283369
SPRINGFIELD - A suburban lawmaker says if community colleges are interested in becoming four-year schools, then lawmakers might want to consider taking away their ability to collect property taxes.
That way, said state Sen. Dan Cronin, an Elmhurst Republican, they can fight for state dollars and tuition money like four-year schools, which, unlike community colleges, do not have the ability to tax homeowners.
"If they want to become like four-year institutions, they can raise money like four-year institutions and give the property taxpayers a break," Cronin told the Daily Herald Wednesday.
Cronin's push to re-examine the mission and funding of community colleges comes as Harper College is again advancing a plan at the Capitol to let it begin offering bachelor's degree programs at its Palatine campus. The initiative had been strongly pushed by former Harper President Robert Breuder, who left the school last year and is now in charge of the College of DuPage.
Cronin, who represents a swath of DuPage, said Breuder is pushing the same four-year agenda for the Glen Ellyn community college.
"I seriously question whether they are fulfilling their mission, and I intend to ask the General Assembly to re-evaluate the basis on which the community colleges were set up and specifically their revenue structure," Cronin said.
A message left at COD's administrative office was not returned Thursday afternoon.
Harper envoy Phil Burdick disputed the assertion that the community college is trying to elbow its way onto university turf. He said the proposal being considered is for a limited, pilot program to explore "niche" bachelor degrees in specific public safety and technological fields that are needed but not available in the region.
"Community colleges don't want to become four-year universities," Burdick said. "That's not part of this."
Burdick, the school's assistant vice president for communication and legislative relations, said the time to have a debate on the traditional roles of community colleges and major universities is after the pilot program concludes.
"Let's work with data and experience instead of fear and protection of turf," he said.
Harper's proposal for a pilot program offering limited four-year degrees recently passed the Illinois House, where it also had success last year. It is now pending in the Senate.
John Patterson Senior State Government Editor
4/1/2009 5:45 PM
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=283369
SPRINGFIELD - A suburban lawmaker says if community colleges are interested in becoming four-year schools, then lawmakers might want to consider taking away their ability to collect property taxes.
That way, said state Sen. Dan Cronin, an Elmhurst Republican, they can fight for state dollars and tuition money like four-year schools, which, unlike community colleges, do not have the ability to tax homeowners.
"If they want to become like four-year institutions, they can raise money like four-year institutions and give the property taxpayers a break," Cronin told the Daily Herald Wednesday.
Cronin's push to re-examine the mission and funding of community colleges comes as Harper College is again advancing a plan at the Capitol to let it begin offering bachelor's degree programs at its Palatine campus. The initiative had been strongly pushed by former Harper President Robert Breuder, who left the school last year and is now in charge of the College of DuPage.
Cronin, who represents a swath of DuPage, said Breuder is pushing the same four-year agenda for the Glen Ellyn community college.
"I seriously question whether they are fulfilling their mission, and I intend to ask the General Assembly to re-evaluate the basis on which the community colleges were set up and specifically their revenue structure," Cronin said.
A message left at COD's administrative office was not returned Thursday afternoon.
Harper envoy Phil Burdick disputed the assertion that the community college is trying to elbow its way onto university turf. He said the proposal being considered is for a limited, pilot program to explore "niche" bachelor degrees in specific public safety and technological fields that are needed but not available in the region.
"Community colleges don't want to become four-year universities," Burdick said. "That's not part of this."
Burdick, the school's assistant vice president for communication and legislative relations, said the time to have a debate on the traditional roles of community colleges and major universities is after the pilot program concludes.
"Let's work with data and experience instead of fear and protection of turf," he said.
Harper's proposal for a pilot program offering limited four-year degrees recently passed the Illinois House, where it also had success last year. It is now pending in the Senate.