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Committee debates $16M+ tied to Gillette community college's 'Enzy' building; vote tabled
Summary
A Senate amendment would make state funding available to accelerate construction of the Enzy academic building at Gillette Community College if the college adopts a fourth mill; the founding president testified and members raised questions about accreditation timing, fairness to other colleges and the conditional release of funds; the committee tabled further action.
The committee spent substantial time on a Senate second-reading amendment that would provide significant state support tied to Gillette Community College's Enzy academic building. Senator Driscoll introduced the amendment; Janelle Overberlander, the college's founding president, testified on the institution's history, local funding and workforce demand.
Overberlander said the Gillette district voted in 2021 to separate from the larger district and authorized assessing up to four mills; she described the district's ongoing work to stand up the college and said the Enzy building primarily will provide lab space for industry partners. She stated the college is pursuing accreditation and projected initial accreditation in fall 2027, adding that if the amendment succeeds and the college moves to the fourth mill, the building could be shovel-ready sooner: "If we have a spring like we have right now ... we'll be putting shovels in dirt next year at this time," she said.
Some members raised concerns that approving conditional state funds before the college actually assesses the fourth mill or secures accreditation could undercut the regular priority process for other community colleges. Representative Lee and others emphasized that state aid typically does not flow to a college until it obtains accreditation and questioned whether the proposal effectively short-circuited established procedures.
Senator Driscoll and supporters argued the amendment is structured so the state funds would not be released unless the fourth mill is adopted and that, over time, bringing the college into the mill-levy system would benefit the statewide community-college system. After extended debate, committee leadership chose to table the item until a third member could join and to consult caucus leadership before reconvening.
No final vote on the amendment occurred during this session; the committee agreed to meet later to continue deliberations.
