The Grand Rapids Community College Board of Trustees met on Monday, June 1, to approve the budget session with a regular meeting following directly after. Among other topics, the Board approved the Headlee Millage Levy Resolution, an increase in minimum wage for student employees, and discussed the new otter exhibit at John Ball Zoo.
Budget Session
Chairperson Salvador Lopez introduced John Globeker, Vice President of Finance and Administration, to present the 2026-27 Millage Levy Resolution, who reported a needed adjustment to the levy rate due to the mandatory Headlee rollback. The current levy is 1.6793 mils and will be adjusted to 1.6603 mils for the fiscal year 2026-27. The original voter-approved rate was 1.9 mils.
Globeker reported that the rollback is legally required and explained what the rollback means further.
“To provide context, the Headlee Amendment automatically reduces millage rates when property value growth outpaces inflation,” Globeker said. “(Which ensures) local revenue doesn’t grow too quickly without voter approval.”
The financial impact for GRCC means an immediate decrease in annualized property tax revenue by $722,000. In comparison to the original voter-approved rate, this means a decrease in annualized property tax of $9.1 million.
Globeker then showed a map of the Kent ISD Taxing District and highlighted that the center touches six counties.
“The proposed levy applies district-wide to all taxing units situated within the designated Kent ISD boundaries,” Globeker said. “Board approval today is the key prerequisite for the timely administrative distribution of the necessary L-4029 tax rate request forms to each of those taxing units.
“Therefore, we recommend the board approve this resolution to authorize the annual millage levy at 1.6603 mils. For us to maintain compliance by authorizing the filing of the L-4029 forms to our 46 taxing units.”
The Board approved the resolution but discussed the function of the Headlee. Trustee Kenyatta Brame opened up the conversation with concerns about the loss of money.
“We’ve gone through this many years now. This just has nothing to do with us, right? The Headlee. I mean, it just is what it is, and we just have to accept the number,” Brame said.
“I guess you could go to Lansing and try to figure out some sort of solution, but that’s our only course of action at this point.”
Globeker ensured that the GRCC could take action if it wanted and discussed how voters would play a role as well.
“There are options, as you said,” Globeker said. “We accept the Headlee amendment, and we move forward. There are possibilities of going back to our voters and asking for a Headlee override, and that would be something the institution would have to take up, and I would imagine over several years of educating our voting public.”
Lopez added, “It is something we hear every year, so I always wonder the same thing. It seems like it’s at the policy level.”
Globeker explained further how rising property values and new developments help balance out the effects of revenue loss.
“The other consideration is, although you’re seeing the decline in revenues, we’re also seeing escalation in the property values and then also new development, which helps offset some of those lost revenues. And it helps as a nod to our property taxpayers, so that it’s not out of control of inflation on those property values,” Globeker said. “So it’s thinking of them and putting ourselves in their shoes as the paying of those monies, which (equals) $61 million on an annualized basis, and looking into next year.”
Globeker concluded that overriding the Headlee is an action the institution could take.
The 2026-2027 proposed budget was discussed as presented during the May session.
Globeker said, “(The budget) serves as our strategic road map for student success, workforce development, and institutional resilience. It spans key areas that includes our general operating fund, our transfer schedule, expendable restricted, which are grants, our designated activity, our auxiliary services, and our plant funds.”
The motion was carried without commentary or discussion which also ended the budget session.
Regular Meeting
Lopez moved onto the regular board meeting and also welcomed Jamie Gordon, the new board trustee.
The agenda of the meeting was approved.
The motion of the Michigan Community College Association (MCCA) board of directors appointments was approved, as discussed and agreed upon in 2025. Vice Chairperson Kathleen Bruinsma will continue to be the MCCA representative, with Lopez serving as the alternate.
The proposal of a two-year extension for Kent Utilities, LLC, was approved. The original expiration date was June 21, 2026 beginning on June 21, 2021. The new ending date will now be June 21, 2028, to ensure the successful completion of planned training.
Globeker acknowledged and thanked the college’s job training team and their continued work.
“For their continued efforts and dedicated support of the Michigan News Jobs Training Program,” Globeker said. “Their work ensures that state income tax withholdings from newly created jobs are effectively redirected to fund crucial employee training, significantly benefiting our local businesses and the regional workforce.”
Globeker also noted the original agreement amount, which was changed from the initial $500K and was adjusted to $250K in 2023 due to delays in hiring.
In other news, the board approved the purchase of several items valued over $100,000, including a purchase order for Year Three of a five year contract for ongoing Canvas Learning Management System Services. The total expenditure totals at $200,78.6 and will come out of the General Fund. Coming out of the Other Special Funds is an expenditure totalling at $223,805.87 which is a blanket purchase that will be used for Administrative Furniture, once renovation is complete.
The board also approved its 2026-2027 meeting schedule.
Lopez invited Rayvene Farnum, Executive Director of Human Resources and Talent Development, to present student wages and compensation, and Professional, Management and Administration (PMA) compensation.
“I am here before you all today to request approval for two items. The first item is related to student employment wages,” Farnum said. “We are looking to increase that from $13.75 to $15 per hour, and that is to align with the Michigan minimum wage increase that will take effect January 1, 2027.”
Farnum discussed the past student wage change from $12.50 to $13.75. The change would take affect on July 1, of this year, as Farnum stated in an email.
“So we continue the practice of staying compliant and aligning with the minimum wage for Michigan. Thank you for your consideration, and I would be more than happy to answer any questions.”
Treasurer Shoshana Siegel asked how many student employees the new wage would apply to, and Brame asked who the minimum wage applies to.
Farnum answered that the prior semester included 250 students and the current summer semester had around 130 students. Only student workers receive the minimum wage.
The student wage increase motion was approved.
Farnum presented the next item.
“The second request is related to the increase for PMA employees,” Farnum said. “We are requesting a 4% increase for annual salaries and also a 2% increase to the minimum and maximum pay ranges that we currently have in place.”
The PMA salary increase motion was approved.
Lopez asked President Kathryn Rogalski to discuss executive contracts.
“For the executive increase contracts, I recommend that the increase with the contracts align with the 4% increases for the PMA group.”
The Executive Contracts motion was approved.
Gordon asked about the difference between Executive contracts and PMA employee salaries.
“Can I ask a clarifying question… 2% to pay ranges? I noticed you didn’t say that for executive contracts. What does that mean? Is that like a step advancement?”
Farnum answered, “No, we have pay ranges for our PMA employees, and contract individuals are negotiated.”
President’s Report
Rogalski shared that she had attended fun and important events since the last Board of Trustees meeting. She first mentioned the new otter enclosure at John Ball Zoo.
“I did attend the ribbon cutting for the otter exhibit… That was great to be a part of and to see the otters,” Rogalski said. “I think we just made such a good choice in our mascot representation.”
Rogalski discussed her attendance at the Mackinac Policy Conference.
“What a great opportunity to meet with so many of the (legislators) around the state, along with supporters from the Michigan Community College Association, and I can’t tell you the number of people I met that are interested in supporting GRCC.
“It was a fantastic conference, a fantastic opportunity to network, and to help build relationships that will support the work that we’re doing going into the future, so that was a wonderful conference,” Rogalski said. She also praised the good weather.
Then, Rogalski discussed touring the Learning Center and welcoming Senator Thomas Albert to the GRCC campus, along with Trustee Brandy Lovelady Mitchell.
“We talked about how we were grateful for the support that we received for our projects, and during that time I invited (Albert) to come and do a tour of the LRC, and he took us up on that, and I think he was very impressed,” Rogalski said. “Vicky Janowiak did a wonderful job giving us a tour and… I can’t wait to see it finished. It’s going to be a great space for our students.”
Rogalski also noted future events happening this week.
“I will attend the Michigan Community College Association president’s committee meeting. So that will be my first time as president, where I am going to one of the board meetings from MCCA, and then I will have the opportunity to meet the rest of the presidents from around the state, so I look forward to hearing what’s on their agenda and what we’re working on together.
“… then tomorrow evening is our adjunct appreciation event, and so that’s for all our adjunct faculty to show appreciation and to thank them for all the work they do throughout the year to support our students,” Rogalski shared.
Conclusion and Comments
Mitchell commented on her time with Rogalski during the LRC tour and expressed gratitude and excitement for the project. She also mentioned a former GRCC student who was on the project and who shared his experience.
“It was my first time since the renovations, being there, and I was amazed by what it’s becoming. The staff were doing an awesome job, and one of the things I appreciated the most was the pride of the leaders coming through,” Mitchell said.
Brame shared his gratitude to be part of the GRCC community and welcomed future students.
“I was able to attend a couple graduations, but particularly East Kentwood, and I went to their honor ceremony. And just the number of students, who are excellent students, that are coming here next year was amazing…” Brame said. “Whether astronaut or doctor, whatever they’re trying to be, this is part of your story, and to your point, I’m very proud to be part of an organization that can help so many people in our community get to where they’re trying to go.”
Siegel emphasized the importance of an education and the many opportunities college can lead to, as well as the ability to be a part of a community that allows students of any status to continue their education at college.
“I think it’s also important to instill in students gratitude for the privilege of an education. To remind them that millions around the world are denied education because of their race, religion, ethnicity, poverty, or because their leaders fear an educated citizenry,” Siegel said. “On our nation’s 250th birthday, July 4, let us celebrate with extra fireworks, leaders who believe that an educated citizenry, far from a threat to those who govern, is essential to a strong democracy.”
The next Board of Trustees Meeting will be on Monday, Aug. 17, at 4:15 p.m. in the Board Library on the fifth floor of RJF. Attendees can also watch the live stream.
Editors note: This story was updated to include the effective date for the student wage change and change the date of the next BOT meeting.
