By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

INA — The Rend Lake College Board tabled two issues which are designed to help with the finances of the college, but will take the matters up at a special board meeting to be scheduled before the April regular meeting.

The first issue was a resolution authorizing the issuance of general obligation alternate revenue bonds, and the second the termination of post-secondary vocational contracts with the Illinois Department of Corrections.

“The board is very sincere in its responsibility to its constituents and the college, and there were some questions asked tonight that we couldn’t readily answer,” RLC President Charley Holstein said. “Neither action was taken (Tuesday) evening to give us time to get more detailed information.”

The college is expecting a $4 million shortfall this year due to the state not making base operating payments to Rend Lake College, forcing the college to look at measures to alleviate the shortfall. Holstein said the general obligation alternate revenue bonds, if approved, would not use tax dollars as the alternate revenue source.

“It is not the intent to use local taxes to pay for the bonds if they are approved,” Holstein explained. “We have money in our insurance reserve fund that would be use to fund the revenue bond.”

Holstein said if the board authorizes the bonds, the college would have up to three years to use the bonds, which would have an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $2 million.

“We don’t need it right now,” Holstein said. “But we want to have the authorization in place so when we do need it, it’s there.”

Finances are also the impetus behind terminating the vocational contracts with the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Under terms of the proposal which will be revisited, the college would terminate the contract with the state to provide programs at Big Muddy River Correctional Center and Pinckneyville Correctional Center.

“In the current contract year, the college has not received payments as promised under the vendor agreements with the Illinois Department of Corrections,” information states. “IDOC has been unable to indicate when the state will honor its contractual commitment to the college.”

Holstein said Rend Lake College is not the first community college in the state to terminate its contracts with the state for correctional center programs.

“Illinois Eastern Community College got out of their contracts last year,” Holstein said. “The state has not kept up with their payments in a timely manner. When we have to use institutional dollars to pay for state programs, it puts a burden on the college and the local programs ... as well as taxpayers in the college district.”

While finances were a big portion of the college board meeting Tuesday night, the evening started off with the appointment of Hamilton County resident Kelly Woodrow to fill the board seat vacated with the resignation of Dr. Don Mitchell.

Woodrow was recommended not only by board member Marvin Scott and Board Chairman David Edmison, but by Mitchell as well, Edmison said.

“I hope I can do a good job serving on the board,” Woodrow said. “I hope to be able to represent the Hamilton County taxpayers.”

Woodrow said he is aware of the financial problems facing all community colleges due to lack of state funding.

“It’s a tough time,” Woodrow said. “With the state not making payments and the college not receiving funds, I want to work to help keep the taxes down for the residents.”