Spending cuts at Blackhawk Technical College may be paying off. BTC President Tracy Pierner says last year’s budget process started with a $400 thousand deficit, and ended with a $700 thousand surplus. Many of the cuts came through the lay-offs of administrators. Pierner says capital spending was also reduced, and so was borrowing. As a result the college was able to pay an additional $250 thousand toward debt. The college also got departments to work together on major equipment purchases. The benefits may be seen in this year’s tax rate. Despite budget reductions, the tax levy will go up slightly, but because of increases in the overall value of property in the district, the tax rate will decline slightly. The actual savings are estimated to be about $1 for the owner of a home valued at $100 thousand.
