The Elgin Community College District 509 Board of Trustees approved measures to freeze tuition fees for the academic year 2021-2022 and tax relief for the 2020 tax filing year during its board meetings in December.
The approved measures have a positive financial impact on the district's taxpayers and students and include the following:
• No increase in tuition fees for 2021-2022, which will remain at a district rate of $ 132 for the fourth year in a row;
• No tax increase (flat rate) for 2020
• US $ 1 million debt service tax reduction for the 2020 tax filing year
"Over the past year we have heard from our students and members of the community that financial pressures are affecting their ability to successfully pursue their educational goals," said chairwoman Donna Redmer, Ed.D. "These tuition freeze and tax relief measures are directly in line with the financial realities of our district residents and our board of directors' commitment to our mission to improve people's lives through learning."
The 2021-2022 academic year marks the fourth consecutive year that the ECC has maintained a tuition fee of $ 132 per credit hour for students in the district. The college previously had a four-year tuition freeze from 2007 to 2011. This tuition freeze is a response to the financial burden on ECC students at this unprecedented time.
"It is more important today than perhaps at any other time in our history to ensure that attending ECC remains affordable," said ECC President David Sam, Ph.D., J.D., LL.M. "Community colleges play an invaluable role in the overall health of their communities. ECC works diligently to provide exceptional educational opportunities for our students and to continue to serve as exemplary stewards of support to our residents."
Along with the tuition fee freeze, the Board of Trustees approved a 2020 tax increase with no increase (or flat rate) compared to the previous year's tax increase. ECC submitted a flat-rate tax that waived all increases permitted under the Law on Limiting Property Tax Extension (PTELL) and increases due to new properties. This measure represents a saving of approximately $ 1.6 million for the district's taxpayers. In addition, the Board of Trustees approved a 2020 debt service tax cut of $ 1 million to further assist taxpayers.