BC3 seeks to end suit, release county funds
BUTLER TWP — With a move to create a financial report, Butler County Community College hopes to end a lawsuit against the county controller and get its money.
The college will seek proposals from firms to complete a type of report that details costs and revenue at its out-of-county sites. The board of trustees Wednesday took action to do that.
After the meeting, the college issued a statement saying its solicitor has been told the move would result in immediate disbursement of the county's payment to the college. Likewise, the college and the county would dismiss the suit they filed against the controller, Jack McMillin.
McMillin said Wednesday afternoon the college has done everything he's asked for, and as soon as he receives confirmation of the action by the trustees, the payment will be issued.
"The check is ready to go out the door," he said.
He called the move by the college as "showing good faith."
McMillin didn't issue the college its latest check, saying he couldn't prove that the county's dollars weren't subsidizing the college's two locations outside the county.
The college holds classes in Lawrence and Mercer counties in addition to its main campus and a campus in Cranberry Township.
The college said the lack of cash could jeopardize its national accreditation and its existence.
This year the college is due $4 million from the county. The quarterly payment being withheld is for more than $1 million.
After McMillin refused to issue the payment, the county commissioners filed a suit to force the check to get signed. The college joined that suit.
The college did issue a report that it said showed the out-of-county sites were making money. However, McMillin took issue with the format of the report and the methods used to calculate the numbers.
He requested the college have an outside, independent firm complete a specific type of form. That's the type of form the college will seek in its request for proposals.
McMillin said he was "glad and delighted" his office could move forward with the business of the government.
