LINCOLN – Just ahead of a new Nebraska Legislative session, a community college has opted to hire its own lobbying firm. 

Southeast Community College Board members voted unanimously to approve a one-year agreement with the firm of Mueller Robak LLC, at a cost of $60,000.  

College officials recently discussed hiring additional representation before the legislature, in light of a challenging past year on issues of financing.  SCC President Dr. Paul Illich says four firms were interviewed before a recommendation was made to the school's board of governors. 

SCC drew sharp criticism from several legislators for a plan that would have raised the college’s tax rate, during a transition year to a new state funding system that finances community college general operations…and removes property tax funding.  Ultimately, the SCC Board opted to leave the school’s property tax rate unchanged.

While the SCC Board, meeting in Lincoln Tuesday, approved the lobbying agreement, it also voted 8-2 to renew membership in the Nebraska Community Colleges Association, at a cost of some $73,000.  The NCCA lobbies on behalf of community colleges in Nebraska. 

The membership payment came with the stipulation that SCC will review membership at year’s end, to determine if the association met college objectives.  That amendment to the vote on membership was approved on a 5-4 vote, with one SCC Board member abstaining.

While some SCC Board members were disappointed with the association’s performance on behalf of the college the past year, officials agreed that association membership benefits community colleges in ways other than just lobbying support.