By Allison Peck
Listen to the full interview on our Kubota Podcast
Mid-Plains Community College will operate under a $63.5 million budget for 2026-27 after the Board of Governors approved the budget and a $5.79 million property tax request Wednesday night.
The board approved a property tax request of $5,791,384 and the 2026-27 budget, which includes expenses and transfers totaling $63,492,004.
No members of the public spoke during either of the two public hearings held before the meeting on the property tax request or the college's budget.
MPCC President Ryan Purdy said the college's property tax situation has changed substantially over the past three years.
"Over the past three years, our property taxes have went from that $0.08 levy down to a $0.02 levy with the future fund going on," Purdy said.
He said MPCC previously collected roughly $17 million in property taxes, compared with approximately $5.7 million under the current system.
Purdy said the current capital levy is particularly important because it is essentially the college's funding source for capital projects across its campuses.
"We get the capital fund, which is $5.7 million on a $201 million physical plant across all of our campuses," Purdy said. "And anything that won't cover, then we have to go privately fundraising."
Purdy also addressed the more than $22.7 million in unused budget authority the board approved carrying forward from previous years.
He emphasized that the figure does not represent money sitting in a college bank account.
"It is strictly authority," Purdy said. "We don't plan on using it. But if a new governor comes in or whatever, and they say we're going back the way it was, then we would have the ability to shift it back to the way we were funded previously."
The board also approved the addition of men's and women's intercollegiate wrestling at North Platte Community College beginning with the 2027-28 academic year.
Purdy said the decision is tied to the college's broader strategic enrollment efforts and an effort to keep students from the MPCC service area close to home.
The college looked at athletic programs that are growing and have strong participation throughout its service area. Purdy said there are currently 29 boys wrestling programs and 25 girls wrestling programs in the MPCC service area.
"Women's wrestling is the fastest growing sport in collegiate athletics, regardless of division," Purdy said.
He also pointed to the growth of girls wrestling in Nebraska and the amount of local talent that could potentially be recruited to NPCC.
The community also showed support for the program during Wednesday's meeting, with North Platte residents Tad Haneborg and Trey Wasserburger speaking in favor of adding wrestling.
Purdy said community support was helpful, but wasn't the primary reason for the decision.
"The driving force was just what's happened with the NSAA, girls wrestling in the service area, and with NJCAA, and the need to keep students here," he said.
Purdy said about 90% of MPCC students come from the college's service area and about 90% remain in Nebraska.
"We want to make sure that we continue to retain our top talent," he said, adding that wrestling could give some students an opportunity to remain closer to home rather than attending a college elsewhere in Nebraska.
The former Osgood Elementary School building will serve as the primary practice facility for the wrestling program.
Purdy said Trucks and Tiaras Academy of Discovery and Enrichment will remain in the eastern portion of the building for another year, while the western portion will be used for wrestling.
The old kindergarten room will become one wrestling room, the main gym will have two mats, and two classrooms will be converted into locker rooms and restrooms.
The board also approved the recommended bid for drywall materials and labor for the North Campus Student Activity Center renovation.
Purdy said the project is transforming the former Shopcraft building into a dedicated student-life space for students living on North Campus.
The building will include lounge and study areas, fitness equipment, bathrooms and showers, student-life and security offices, as well as recreational amenities.
"I think it'll be a pool table and a ping pong table over there as well," Purdy said. "So a nice reuse of that space."
Purdy said the college previously did not have a dedicated student activity center on North Campus for students to use during evenings and after regular food-service hours.
The college is also working on North Campus housing and the Cherry County Events Center at the Valentine Community Campus. Purdy identified those projects, along with the wrestling-related work at Osgoode, as three of the major capital projects currently moving forward.
The meeting also included discussion of a potential change to Nebraska law that could eventually allow community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees.
Purdy said MPCC is working with members of the Legislature's Education Committee to determine whether there is support for allowing community colleges to offer baccalaureate degrees.
Nebraska currently does not allow community colleges to offer bachelor's degrees, and a statutory change would be required.
Purdy said the goal is to continue discussions this fall and potentially have legislation introduced in the spring.
"There's things we can do between our Ogallala-Imperial, Valentine, Broken Bow, and North Platte-McCook campuses that just doesn't make any sense for them to expand out here," Purdy said. "So we don't want to compete, but we want to supplement."
The meeting came just days after McCook Community College celebrated its 100th anniversary.
Purdy said the celebration brought retired faculty, staff, administrators and alumni back to McCook, giving former members of the college community an opportunity to reconnect and reflect on its history.
He also highlighted the return of the college's historic Blue Goose vehicle for the anniversary parade.
"It was a great opportunity for retired faculty, staff, administration, for alumni to come back and see the changes and just really have a chance to reminisce and see all the things that have happened," Purdy said.
The college's fall calendar also includes athletics, concerts, music and theater productions across the Mid-Plains district.
The next MPCC Board of Governors meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 21 at McCook Community College.