There will be no tuition increase at Illinois Valley Community College in 2019-2020, the board’s audit finance committee learned Tuesday.

“There won’t be many community colleges in the state who will make that statement,” IVCC President Jerry Corcoran said.

Like the weather outside, IVCC will freeze tuition at $133 per credit hour for the summer, fall and spring semesters, Vice President for Business Services and Finance Cheryl Roelfsema said as part of her report on the three-year financial plan.

The administration will seek approval of the full board Feb. 14.

IVCC’s $133 rate compares to a“peer average” of $141.25 for community colleges of similar size, location and resources and a state average of$144.36.

IVCC is hopeful that keeping costs down along with the addition of new programs in agriculture, cybersecurity and medical assistant will help enrollment.

“Our plan is optimistic about en- rollment growth and cautious onstate funding,” Roelfsema said.

While the college awaits Gov. J.B.Pritzker’s February budget address, it expects state funding to maintaincurrent levels.

Property tax income is expected to increase 1.5 percent per year, Roelfsema said while noting Exelon Generating Station’s 2019 assessment will increase from $435 million to $460 million.

In a memo to Corcoran, Roelfse-ma said in summary, “The struggle tomaintain enrollments is the highestpriority. Over the next three years, itwill be important to match personnelwith enrollments. New programs willbe considered and current programs evaluated for viability.”

In other business, audit financeapproved bringing to the full board:

• The administration’s recommendation to change 86 course fees: 62 increases, 2 new courses, 15 decreases and the assignment of fees to 7 existing courses.

• Transfer of $450,000 to a Capital Development Board trust account for the building of an agriculture program storage building where the dairy barnonce stood. Corcoran said the building design will require IVCC board approval before it can proceed.

• An intergovernmental agree-ment with the City of Ottawafor a 12-year extension of adowntown TIF district.