Millage
Nerita L. Hughes, Ed.D.
President
CB 201E
(906) 217-4244
nerita.hughes@baycollege.edu
Laura L. Johnson
Executive Administrative Assistant to the President
CB 201F
(906) 217-4022
lauralee.johnson@baycollege.edu
VOTE! Tuesday, August 5, 2025
The Legacy of Generosity
The Bay College Iron Mountain Campus was built on land generously donated by the Fornetti family. In October 2003, Ted and Eleanor Fornetti of Iron Mountain gifted 24-1/2 acres of land to Bay College. The donation came with one condition: Bay College must develop an educational campus at that site within five years.
In May 2005, Dickinson County voters approved a one-mill property tax to fund construction of a full-service campus in the county. With funding secured, ground was broken and construction began. The Iron Mountain Campus officially opened its doors in September 2007, followed by a formal dedication and open house event.
John Fornetti and his sister Judy (Fornetti) Angera shared that their mother donated the land out of regret—she couldn't continue her education because she stayed home to care for her ill mother. The gift aimed to expand access to education in Dickinson County and ensure future generations wouldn't face the same barriers to education.
The campus sits on roughly 25 acres with a 67,000 sq ft facility housing labs, classrooms, galleries, a conference hall, and shared YMCA space. Since 1977, over 8,300 students have taken classes on the Iron Mountain site; nearly 1,900 have graduated, and over 203,336 credit hours were earned.
The Iron Mountain Campus stands today as both a tribute to the Fornetti family's generosity and the community's shared investment in education. The land donation not only made physical space possible but also fulfilled a vision to expand access, helping hundreds of students fulfill their educational goals close to home.
What is the Dickinson County Millage Renewal About?
The Dickinson County millage renewal is the request of the Dickinson County Commissioners. The current property tax has been in place for 20 years and will be expiring with the 2026 tax levy. The purpose of the millage is to financially support the Bay College Iron Mountain Campus. Dickinson County Commissioners must go back to the voters if the millage is to be renewed. The ballot will be asking Dickinson County voters to consider the renewal for Bay College Iron Mountain Campus for another 20 years from 2027 – 2046.
Iron Mountain Campus Economic Impact
The savings realized in the past 18 years due to the 1 mill property tax has been $1.8 million!8,319
Total number of students who have taken classes at Iron Mountain campus since 1977.
1,879
Total number of students who have graduated from Iron Mountain campus since 1977.
1,727
Total number of Dual Enrolled Iron Mountain students we have served since our first offerings.
720
Total number of employees who have worked at Iron Mountain campus since 1977.
Student Impact
Around 19% of students attending Bay College Iron Mountain originated from outside the county. Some of these students relocated to Dickinson County. In addition, some in-county students, would have left the community for other educational opportunities if not for Bay College.
These relocated and retained students spent money on groceries, mortgage and rent payments, and other living expenses at county businesses. The expenditures of relocated and retained students added $582,300 in income to the Dickinson County economy.
(Source: Lightcast data 2022-2023)
Operations Impact
23
Full-time and part-time faculty and staff.
$2.2M
In-county payroll spent on groceries, mortgages, dining, and household expenses.
$796.5
Thousand spent on campus expenses related to facilities, supplies, and professional services.
$1.9M
Net income added to the county economy due to campus operations spending.
(Source: Lightcast data 2022-2023)
Alumni Impact
Over the years, students have studied at Bay College Iron Mountain and entered or re-entered the workforce with newly acquired knowledge and skills.
Today, thousands of these former students are employed in Dickinson County. The net impact of Bay College Iron Mountain’s former students currently employed in the county workforce amounted to $4 million in added income.
“Bay College made it possible for me to stay local. My college experience here helped me form my work ethic. Everyone was so easy to work with.”
Marissa Grondine
Alumni
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, college costs across our country increase every year. There are numerous factors that drive the increases such as: equipment and machine expenses (ex: simulation lab, program costs, etc.), IT infrastructure and support costs, increases in online learning, health care cost increases, and inflation are a few.
We know that students are increasingly facing challenges in meeting their basic needs, from food insecurity to limited access to essential resources. As part of our commitment to providing a high-quality education, we also offer a range of student support services, including tutoring, mental health counseling, and access to our food pantries both in Escanaba and Iron Mountain.
In addition, over the past several years, state appropriations per student have declined, both in absolute terms and especially when adjusted for inflation or changes in enrollment. Due to this decline in state funding, Community Colleges have become more dependent on tuition and fee revenue and local property tax support.
Michigan community colleges have historically relied on three primary revenue streams. Bay College percentages are listed below:
- Tuition and Fees (34%)
- Local Property Taxes (Delta Co. 19%; Dickinson Co. 5%)
- State Aid (Appropriations - 33%)
Bay College was established in 1962 in Delta County when the voters of Delta County approved 1 mill in perpetuity to finance a community college in the district of Delta County. The Community College Act (MCL 331 of 1966) provides the requirements for the Board of Trustees (7 members, elected at large in the territory of the district (Delta County), and their duties and powers).
The Board of Trustees and the Dickinson County Board of Commissioners discussed the
process for establishing representation on the Board of Trustees in 2023. A board
member with voting rights must be part of the community college district. Prior to
2016, the county between Delta and Dickinson, Menominee County, would have had to
be annexed before Dickinson County could be annexed. The annexation process is two
ballot questions posed to the voters of that county to assume the same millage rate
that supports the College and to become part of that community college district. Menominee
County would have had to approve these ballot questions if it had been proposed. It
never was. After law changes in 2016, annexation of the county between is no longer
required, so
Dickinson County voters could be approached to approve the same millage rate that
supports the College and become part of the community college district. That millage
rate is 3.5 mills that Delta County voters pay, compared to the 1 mill that Dickinson
County voters pay to support Bay College. The Dept. of Education and the State of
Michigan must approve the annexation request before it is approved as ballot questions.
The Board of Commissioners did not pursue that option.
A non-voting member or liaison was also discussed but legal counsel cautioned that the member could not have the same authority as an elected member. That means they may not be able to participate in closed sessions, have access to attorney client privilege information or certain student information due to FERPA. The Board of Commissioners did not pursue that option.
The Dickinson County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Trustees entered a Program and Services Contract in 2005 that established the appointment of an Iron Mountain Campus Advisory Board that meets quarterly with the President and the Executive Director of Iron Mountain Campus. It is comprised of 9 members from the community (including a Dickinson Board of Commissioner) and a Board of Trustees liaison.
The Dickinson County Board of Commissioners millage that supports Bay College is 1.0 mill., which was reduced by the Headlee amendment to .9987 mills. Delta County property owners provide tax support to the College of 3.5 mills (Headlee reduces to 3.2974), which includes a permanent Operating millage of 2.5 mills (Headlee reduces to 2.2974) and a Debt and Capital levy of 1 mil through 2034. In consideration of the tax support provided by the residents of Dickinson County, the tuition rate for Dickinson County residents is proportionately reduced from the In-State tuition rate.
Nerita L. Hughes, Ed.D.
President
CB 201E
(906) 217-4244
nerita.hughes@baycollege.edu
Laura L. Johnson
Executive Administrative Assistant to the President
CB 201F
(906) 217-4022
lauralee.johnson@baycollege.edu