Could the nearly complete William L. Sullivan Technology Center at Henderson Community College -- a $13 million investment and the result of long years of local effort -- really sit unopened and unused?
That's the situation right now as the Kentucky General Assembly tries to navigate through the state's tight financial straits.
Gov. Steve Beshear's original budget did not include funds for operation and maintenance of the Sullivan Center. The budget passed by the state House of Representatives also failed to include such funds -- as well as operational funding for 14 other new buildings in the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. It's now up to the state Senate as it works on its version of the budget.
According to KCTCS President Michael B. McCall, the final budget needs to include about $10 million in maintenance and operating funds to allow the new buildings to open. HCC's share of that for the Sullivan Center would be about $480,000.
Someplace, somehow those funds must be found and allocated. How high to raise cigarette taxes is still being debated. Casino gambling and the revenue it would funnel to state government is not quite a dead issue.
Even if those avenues don't come through for the community college system, it's hard to imagine that after all the millions invested, buildings such as the Sullivan Center would sit dark and unused.
Spending priorities must be examined and re-examined.
Among its missions -- once properly funded -- the center will provide technical education in various fields, tutoring, counseling, adult education and a consolidated employment center designed to connect employers with job-seekers.
Success in those efforts would lift all involved. Lives would be changed for the better, and in so many long-lasting ways.
Are there higher priorities?
What a shame it would be if the Sullivan Center -- and the other new buildings at colleges across the state, each with its own mission in its community -- can't get up and running.
When all agree that Kentucky's educational system is the key to Kentucky's future economic growth and thereby Kentuckians' quality of life for generations to come, our leaders must find a way.
