For the first time ever a Nebraska community college is asking taxpayers for more money.

State law limits the institutions to a one percent property tax.

But come November 4th, Central Community College is asking voters in their primary service area of 25 counties for a three percent increase.

Over crumbling stairs, students make their way to the most heavily used building on CCC's Hastings campus.

"This building was really not designed to ever have lecture classrooms," said Christopher Waddle, a political science instructor.

But with temporary walls--on the inside and out--this former army ammunition warehouse is the Academic Ed Building.

"About every four years or so they replace the south wall because so much mold has accumulated between the wall itself," said Waddle. "We've had to close one of our entrances to the building because it's simply not safe enough."

And Waddle says thin walls make it hard to teach.

"That's just not a good learning environment. You can't have a good discussion sometimes because it's going to be too loud between the two rooms," he said.

Even if you don't use the building or visit the campus, college officials say you should be concerned about these student's education because the majority of them will stay right here in Nebraska.

"95 percent of our graduates stay in Nebraska. 77 percent last year stayed within the Central Community College area," said past-president LaVern Franzen. "It's really the investment aspect to invest in their community, in the state of Nebraska and the future workforce that we may have available to us down the road."

Officials say fixing or replacing six priority projects will help that happen.

"The other community colleges are dealing with some of the same issues that we are with aging facilities," said Franzen.

And everyone is looking for funds.

CCC officials say they first looked at raising student's tuition, but funds wouldn't come in quick enough.

They then asked the legislature for help, but weren't able to spark interest with lawmakers.