Governor Perry and the presiding officers of the House and Senate have ordered a much-anticipated round of budget cuts to keep the state afloat through the current biennium. In a written statement, the three leaders instructed agencies to cut spending by $1.2 billion. As reported earlier, policy makers have indicated the necessity for savings now to prepare for the coming Regular Session, when lawmakers must contend with a looming deficit of between $11 billion and $18 billion. The Legislature will meet in January to set funding levels for the 2012-13 biennium.
Here's Tuesday's official announcement, which includes links for an enumeration of targeted and exempted agencies. It is unclear at this point how the latest announcement will affect Texas community and technical colleges. In the past, when such instructions have been issued, each school determined its own way to contend with mandated reductions. To complicate matters, virtually all two-year colleges are presently experiencing a major surge in enrollment, and class schedules for summer and fall have already been published.
TCCTA members are urged to visit the blog frequently for updates.
Media reports indicate that financial aid for students will not be affected drastically, but developmental education programs may suffer, at least in one area. From the Dallas Morning News:
Also cut were plans to build several new community college campuses and 1,000 slots for adult education at two-year colleges. And at several community college systems, including Collin County’s, there will be fewer remedial classes offered.
However, college financial aid programs were almost entirely spared. A proposed $50 million cut was entirely eliminated. A Legislative Budget Board list of exemptions suggested a partial cut would be carried out, affecting students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their high school class in 2012-2013.
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