EDITOR:

On Nov. 4, we will have the opportunity to vote for millage for Bay College. We all should be aware of the tremendous benefit Bay College brings to this community. As a member of the Bay college Foundation Board of Directors, I can assure you of the outstanding education Bay provides for the students attending classes there.

The board of Bay College, the administration, the staff and the instructors are dedicated to making this one of the outstanding community colleges of the country… and they are succeeding. The nursing program, the welding program and others are outstanding. Students who receive an associates degree form Bay and continue their college education at a four year university or college, are well prepared to continue their studies and a degree.

Bay College has about 120 full time employees, about 100 part time employees, and over 125 student employees. When I consider all the benefits this community receives from Bay College, I am thankful to the people of this community who have been supportive of the millages since Bay started over 55 years ago.

Bay offers high school students the opportunity to participate in an Early College Program that will allow them to take college courses during high school. After five years of High School and Early College, students graduate with both a high school diploma and a college Associates degree, with no cost to them or their parents. WOW!! That’s a huge savings for these students and their parents and they are getting an outstanding education.

With a reduction in funding from the State of Michigan and with the normal increase in the cost of living, Bay College is asking for your support of an .89 millage increase. That is less than one mill. For a home worth $80,000, this millage would cost less than $3 per month. I find that a bargain.

I ask you to vote on Nov. 5. Consider the benefits of bay College to our community. Encourage voters you know to support the millage. And finally, I ask you to vote YES on the millage request for Bay College. You will be proud you did!

Bob Bink

Escanaba