Campaign on behalf of Richland tax referendum raises $87,000
By THERESA CHURCHILL - H&R Senior WriterDECATUR - An early start on fund raising helped a campaign on behalf of Richland Community College raise $87,000 to date.
The funds are being used to support a proposed tax increase that, if approved, would have the effect of keeping property taxes paid to the college from going down.
Nearly $50,000 of the total was raised before Richland's Board of Trustees voted Jan. 10 to place the referendum on the April 5 ballot.
According to reports filed with the Illinois Board of Elections, the Richland 2014 Political Action Committee was organized in August and began receiving contributions in October, with the bulk coming in during December.
The largest individual contributions were $10,000 from B.A. Swartz; $5,000 from Dr. Evelyn Odunsi; and $2,500 from Gina Pinto. All are from Decatur.
Kevin Breheny, president of J.L. Hubbard Insurance & Bonds and a member of Friends of Richland, said he began raising money for the campaign in December. "We worked to get the money in place in case the trustees decided to go ahead," he said. "People gave readily because Richland is such an asset to the community."
He said every bit that has been raised is needed to explain the tax proposal.
The proposal would raise the Richland's tax levy by 6 cents per $100 equalized assessed valuation starting in 2006, just as the college pays off debts that make up that portion of the levy. It would amount to $17.12 annually on an $85,950 house and generate $1.1 million a year for Richland.
Contributors (all are from Decatur unless otherwise noted) giving $2,000 were: Archer Daniels Midland Co., Joan Avis, Bob Brady Dodge, Kevin Breheny of Forsyth, Mary Ellen Burns of Mount Zion, the Chamber of Commerce for Decatur and Macon County, Christy-Foltz Inc., Bill Eichenauer, Allen Fagin, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 146, Burnell Kraft, Ray Livasy, Bernard Naber of Forsyth, Pete Paulin of Forsyth, Richard Reising, the Richland Federation of Teachers, Bob Schwandt, Frank Thorpe of Clinton, David and Frank Tyrolt and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 742.
New Perspectives Center for Counseling & Therapy in Salem, Ore., gave $1,500, and the following contributors gave $1,000: BLDD Architects, Bill Braun, Citizens for Duane Noland, Tyson Cocagne, Greg Florian, Heartland Ag Group of Forsyth, Myung Kim, Bruce Nims, Neil Pistorius, Joseph Schrodt and Henry Staley.
Theresa Churchill can be reached at tchurchill@;herald-review.com or 421-7978.
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