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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Valley City State University students voted to increase their student fees to support the proposed Health, Wellness and Physical Education Center.
VCSU Student Senate president Michaela Halvorson says the students favored the plan by 64 percent. She says the proposed fee would charge $10 to $12 per credit capped at $12 per credit for full time students who must take a minimum of 12 credits. Anyone who is taking fewer than 12 credits per semester will not have to pay the fee. Anyone with 12 credits or higher will be paying the fee.
Halvorson says for example, if the fee was $10 per credit and the student is taking 15 credits the fee would be $150 per semester for a total of $300 per year based on the two semester system.
Halvorson says this fee is automatically put into your Account Charges, so it is part of the bill student’s pay with their tuition.
Halvorson says 64 percent of the students supported the concept of the proposed Wellness Center and would embrace the facility if approved by Valley City voters.
If Valley City voters do not approve the concept funding for a Wellness Center the proposed student fee increases for VCSU students would be null and void.
Another public input meeting concerning the Wellness Center will be held this month. Barnes County Valley City Area Economic Development Director Jennifer Feist says an announcement will be made soon as to the date and location of the public meeting. She says during the upcoming meeting more information on the feasibility and the cost of operating the building will be released.
Feist says the Valley City/Barnes County Development Corporation voted to cover a possible funding gap that could occur with the construction of the proposed Wellness Center if the project is approved by Valley City voters in the November 4th election.
The board approved of using existing funding mechanisms, if needed, to cover a construction overrun of up to $500,000. Feist says no new taxes are part of this proposal. She says one possible scenario is to use city sales tax or food and beverage dollars set aside for economic development.
Once again Feist says the date and location of the final public input meeting concerning the proposed Wellness Center concept will be announced soon.
The proposed Wellness Center would be a joint venture with Valley City State University, Valley City Parks & Recreation and other local entities.