Lake Michigan College is explaining two millage requests it’s placed on the ballot for this year as the Berrien County GOP has come out against them.
Members of the party put up signs opposing the millage renewals at the Berrien County Youth Fair and posts on social media, but LMC Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing, and Governmental Relations Al Pscholka tells us they’re misinformed.
“As a lifelong Republican, I can say that Hell has now frozen over,” Pscholka said. “The Berrien County Republican party is opposing a tax cut.”
Pscholka says LMC this year is asking for a full renewal of the operational millage and a renewal of the capital millage at 50% of its current rate.
“One is for a 20 year operational renewal. That’s 20% of our budget. It’s a traditional renewal that folks have renewed before. It freezes your tax rate at 0.65 for 20 years. The second proposal cuts the rate, cuts the rate from 0.48 to 0.24.”
The operational millage request is for 20 years while the capital millage request is for ten years. LMC says the capital millage is for building and safety improvements, and Pscholka told us previously the college can get by with a reduction in that levy.
Pscholka says social media has a way of spreading false information, and that appears to be the case here.
LMC will be working between now and the November election to make sure everyone understands what it’s put on the ballot.
