The Butler County commissioners are defending their decision to award $5 million to Butler County Community College.
The county has been giving money to BC3 in some capacity for 51 years but some are questioning if the support should continue given the current financial status of the county.
Commissioner Kim Geyer- who once sat on BC3’s board of trustees- strongly defended the decision after it came up at Wednesday’s commissioners meeting, saying the county had to find a way to make it work because supporting the college is simply in the best interest for Butler County. Geyer is now an ex officio to BC3 representing the county commissioners but is not a BC3 trustees member and does not have voting privileges.
“We have no intentions of stopping funding,” Geyer said Wednesday. “Philosophically, you have to ask yourself…’Would it be right to do (stop funding)?’ BC3 is more than just a financial institution. By not funding, you’re affecting lots of lives.”
Commissioner Leslie Osche said she believes the county must invest in its residents in the front end so it doesn’t have to in the back end…illustrating that education could combat the increase in county residents involved in the court system and those receiving human services.
“There was never any question to stop funding,” Osche said. “Sure, it would be easy to simply pull the money. But no. We will absolutely not.”
Commissioner Kevin Boozel, a BC3 alum himself, said he would see pulling BC3’s money as a reckless response.
BC3 President Dr. Nick Neupauer publicly thanked the commissioners during their meeting Wednesday….stating that their support is enabling affordable tuition to Butler County residents. He referenced a recent survey by Schools.com that heralded BC3 as the best community college in the state.
“Most BC3 students leave debt-free,” Neupaur said.
Slippery Rock resident Dr. Itzi Meztli spoke during Wednesday’s commissioners meeting, encouraging the board to suspend BC3-allocated funds for a year.
“Because Butler County is basically broke,” he said.
Meztli also suggested getting surrounding counties- where BC3 operates satellite campuses- to contribute. The commissioners said tuition for out-of-county residents is double than what it is for Butler County residents.
“The tax dollars spent in Butler County are staying in Butler County for Butler County students,” Geyer said.
