WHAT A YES VOTE WOULD MEAN TO YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. ABOUT 1100 STUDENTS FROM 19 FEEDER SCHOOLS AND BEYOND MAKE THEIR WAY TO MCLEAN COUNTY EVERY YEAR TO KICK START THEIR CAREER EXPERIENCE AT MID-AMERICA TECHNOLOGY CENTER. ANYTHING FROM THOSE TRADITIONAL TRADES LIKE ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, HVAC, CARPENTRY. LIKE OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE, MULTIMEDIA GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT DENNIS KROUT SAYS THEIR CAMPUS ISN’T ABLE TO MEET THE DEMAND FOR THEIR MORE POPULAR PROGRAMS LIKE WELDING, HEALTH CARE AND COSMETOLOGY. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A PROBLEM THAT WE’RE TURNING AWAY FAR TOO MANY STUDENTS. CURRENTLY, WE TURN AWAY ABOUT 950 STUDENTS WHEN WE ROLL OUT THOSE ACCEPTANCE LETTERS. THAT’S A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE ACTUALLY ACCEPT INTO OUR FULL TIME PROGRAMS. ON AUGUST 12TH, VOTERS IN MCLEAN, GARVIN, AND PORTIONS OF CLEVELAND, GRADY, MURRAY, PONTOTOC, POTTAWATOMIE AND STEVENS COUNTIES WILL DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO SEE A $3 MILLION INCREASE TO THE CENTER’S BUILDING FUND. THE MONEY GOING TOWARDS A SECOND LOCATION, DUPLICATING IN-DEMAND PROGRAMS IN THE NEWCASTLE BLANCHARD AREA, AND MAINTENANCE. IF PASSED, RESIDENTS WILL SEE A TAX SPIKE ON THEIR PROPERTY TAXES. SO HOW MUCH CAN IT COST YOU? THAT’S A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK RIGHT NOW. THE EASIEST WAY TO CALCULATE THAT IS IT’S ABOUT $33 PER $100,000 OF MARKET VALUE ON YOUR HOUSE. AND SO IF YOU HAVE A $300,000 HOME, IT’S ABOUT $100 PER YEAR FOR YOUR INCREASE IN YOUR PROPERTY TAXES. KROUT EXPLAINS THE MILLAGE SPIKE MEANS THEY CAN SAY YES TO MORE STUDENTS AND ADD MORE PROGRAMS, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE FINAL CALL IS IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS. YES, IT IS AN INCREASE IN TAXES. WE’VE NOT HIDDEN THAT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO TO LOOK AT THAT AND MAKE THE BEST DECISION FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILY. ULTIMATELY, THE VOTERS GET TO DECIDE WHAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY CENTER THEY HAVE IN THEIR DISTRICT, AND WE’LL BE OKAY WITH THAT. VOTERS LIVING WITHIN THE CENTER’S DISTRICT CAN WEIGH IN ON THE QUESTION AT THE POLLS ON AUGUST 12TH.
Voters to decide on millage increase for Mid-America Technology Center expansion
Residents in several Oklahoma counties will vote on a proposed millage increase to fund a second campus for Mid America Technology Center, aiming to accommodate more students and expand popular programs.
Voters in several Oklahoma counties will decide next week whether to approve a millage increase for Mid-America Technology Center to fund a second campus in the Newcastle-Blanchard area. >> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channelThe trades training school in Wayne serves about 1,100 students from 19 feeder schools and beyond, offering programs in fields such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, criminal justice, multimedia, and graphic design.”Right now we’re having a problem that we’re turning away too many students, currently we turn away about 950 students when we roll out those acceptance letters, that’s a lot more than we actually accept into our full-time programs,” said Dallas Krout, assistant superintendent at Mid-America Technology Center.On August 12, voters in McClain, Garvin, and portions of Cleveland, Grady, Murray, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, and Stephens counties will decide on a proposed $3 million increase to the center’s building fund. The funds would be used to establish a second location that duplicates in-demand programs and covers maintenance costs. If passed, residents will experience a property tax increase.So how much can it cost you?”That’s a fair question to ask right now. The easiest way to calculate that it’s about $33 per $100,000 of market value on your house. If you have a $300,000 home, it’s about $100 more per year for your increase in property taxes,” Krout said.He further noted that the millage spike would allow the center to accept more students and add more programs. “It’s an increase in taxes, we have not hidden that and we want to make sure that people are able to look at that make the best decision for themselves and their family ultimately the voters get to decide what type of technology center they have in their district and we’ll be okay with that,” Krout said.Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.Voters living within the center’s district can weigh in on the question at the polls Tuesday.Top HeadlinesBat flies into woman’s mouth while on stargazing trip, leaving her with $21,000 medical billState Supt. Ryan Walters announces end to some end-of-year state testingPolice identify man found dead at NW OKC apartment complex, make an arrest19-year-old from Norman dies in Kingfisher County crashInstagram has unveiled a new location sharing feature. Here’s how to turn it off
Voters in several Oklahoma counties will decide next week whether to approve a millage increase for Mid-America Technology Center to fund a second campus in the Newcastle-Blanchard area.
>> Download the KOCO 5 app | Subscribe to KOCO 5’s YouTube channel
The trades training school in Wayne serves about 1,100 students from 19 feeder schools and beyond, offering programs in fields such as electrical, plumbing, HVAC, carpentry, criminal justice, multimedia, and graphic design.
“Right now we’re having a problem that we’re turning away too many students, currently we turn away about 950 students when we roll out those acceptance letters, that’s a lot more than we actually accept into our full-time programs,” said Dallas Krout, assistant superintendent at Mid-America Technology Center.
On August 12, voters in McClain, Garvin, and portions of Cleveland, Grady, Murray, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, and Stephens counties will decide on a proposed $3 million increase to the center’s building fund.
The funds would be used to establish a second location that duplicates in-demand programs and covers maintenance costs. If passed, residents will experience a property tax increase.
So how much can it cost you?
“That’s a fair question to ask right now. The easiest way to calculate that it’s about $33 per $100,000 of market value on your house. If you have a $300,000 home, it’s about $100 more per year for your increase in property taxes,” Krout said.
He further noted that the millage spike would allow the center to accept more students and add more programs.
“It’s an increase in taxes, we have not hidden that and we want to make sure that people are able to look at that make the best decision for themselves and their family ultimately the voters get to decide what type of technology center they have in their district and we’ll be okay with that,” Krout said.
Get the latest news stories of interest by clicking here.
Voters living within the center’s district can weigh in on the question at the polls Tuesday.
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