College asks legislature for $8 million; Healthy World Institute proposed

Posted 9/30/09

MONTICELLO, NY — The president of Sullivan County Community College (SUNY Sullivan) Dr. Karin Hilgersom, has asked the Sullivan County Legislature to commit to spending $8 million or perhaps $10 …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

College asks legislature for $8 million; Healthy World Institute proposed

Posted

MONTICELLO, NY — The president of Sullivan County Community College (SUNY Sullivan) Dr. Karin Hilgersom, has asked the Sullivan County Legislature to commit to spending $8 million or perhaps $10 million, depending on other funding, to help the college pay for a Healthy World Studies and Tech Transfer Institute (HWI).

According to information on the college’s website, the HWI “will provide space to increase the number of graduates in SUNY Sullivan’s Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Culinary and Hospitality programs. New programs in Ultrasound Technology and Nourishment Arts & Sciences will be unique to SUNY Sullivan….”

During Hilgersom’s presentation to the legislature, she said the “worst case scenario” for taxpayers would be an increase of $30 in county taxes per year on a house valued at $200,000. She added that an HWI would likely attract some of the students who attend SUNY facilities outside of the county such as in Orange County. Currently, those students cost county taxpayers $1.5 million per year in so-called “charge backs” paid to Orange and other counties.

She also said, “Our competitors are building new facilities,” and facilities attract students and their parents.” She also said, “It’s not just about the space, it’s also about the work, and the work is a new brand… This is healthy people, healthy water, healthy foodshed, healthy environment, healthy economy. The young people nowadays care about this stuff.”

She said people in the SUNY system have been helpful in moving the process forward because “they can see this is going to be a problem for us if we don’t reinvest.”

She also said the coming Montreign Casino would attract students who would want to enroll in an expanded culinary program. Other programs the college plans to expand include the green-building management and the nursing program. A new ultrasound technician program would be added.

Some $10 million of funding is currently available because, at the state level, SUNY in years past allocated that money to be spent on a Center for Advanced Sciences and Technology or CAST building. Those plans were cancelled as the Great Recession unfolded, but the funding has been rolled over from year to year. Hilgersom said that at some point those funds will no longer be available.

Legislator Kathy LaBuda noted that while a $30 increase to a taxpayer might not seem like much, the legislators have to be mindful of the entire increase upcoming capital projects will have on tax bills. The county is facing the cost of a new jail, and roads and bridges need a significant amount of work.

At one point, Hilgersom said the building is likely to pay for itself.

The college has applied for what is known as a SUNY 2020 Challenge Grant, and without a commitment from the county to spend at least $8 million on the facility, the college stands little to no chance of winning the grant. Further she said if that grant is not awarded to the college, she would be back asking the legislature for $10 million.

According to the college’s website, “The HWI concept has the formal approval of the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees; [and] the backing of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development…

“Funding for the HWI is an investment in the people of Sullivan County; individuals and families, some who have lived in the county for generations and who will be transformed by the work at the facility.”

Hilgersom has embarked on a series of town meetings in the county to promote the HWI facility.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here