(KLZA)-- The Southeast Community College Board of Governors voted to reverse course after months of public pressure at SCC- Milford campus on Tuesday. They’re keeping the tax levy flat heading into their final year of property tax collection.

SCC administrators will need to chart a new course on the path to possible, away from a planned levy increase.

They’ll need to steer toward a projected budget $9 million lighter, born from the vote to keep the Levy at 7.37 cents instead of raising it to 8.5 cents.

SCC president Paul Illich said the action will require some cuts, and likely pause some construction projects, cutting equipment, technology, operating maintenance. Some budget re-structuring will be required.

Beginning next year Nebraska Community Colleges will see the equivalent of a 7.5 cent levy to be paid out of a state fund, the funding will grow by just 3.5% a year unless enrollment numbers soar. But with the old property tax model, SCC could rely on a more than 5% increase every year.

Some on the SCC Board of Governors told channel 10-11 News in Lincoln that they feared reprisal from state government which spurred the 10-1 vote in favor of keeping the levy the same.