We continue to witness local effects of grim budgetary projections for next year, as community college trustees formulate their plans. Previous posts have profiled schools from various regions of the state. It's all happening because of a no-growth state appropriations formula for two-year schools for the next biennium.
When enrollments go up statewide, and state money is not there to pay for the instruction of these students, local schools must find the money somewhere (and new taxes are usually impossible these days, according to most reports), or engage in selective or across-the-board reductions. Most schools appear to be raising tuition, too. At least one district (the Alamo Colleges in San Antonio) is considering unprecedented enrollment caps.
Midland College, in addition to the usual cost-cutting (non-replacement of retirees, larger classes, fewer sections, no raises, etc.), is set to eliminate two vocational programs, in veterinary technology and aviation. It's covered in an article in the Midland Reporter-Telegram, by Audrie Palmer.
A key passage:
"It's real unfortunate," said MC President Steve Thomas who made the recommendation to the board. "We were forced to make major cuts. ... We didn't have any choice."
The board will vote on the final budget in August, but officials said they've had to make cuts to include the anticipated 7.5 percent decrease in funding by the state. Those cuts include no salary increases for any employees and a reduced number of employees who will have benefits with the college.
Other major adjustments the college has made is eliminating positions and reorganizing and replacing positions with those receiving a lower salary, said Rick Bender, vice president of Administrative Services.
For some long-term employees who have retired or will retire, he said the school will either not replace them or hire someone who will be paid less.
Officials anticipate a $1,189,068 increase in education and general expenses this year, up from a little more than $36.4 million to about $37.6 projected for the 2011-12 school year and a 3.3 percent increase in budgetary needs, documents showed.
The preliminary budget shows a decrease of $573,897 from state funds, down from roughly $9.1 million to $8.5 this upcoming year. The recently approved tuition and fees increase along with an increase of about a half million in property taxes is expected to generate an additional $1,346,673 this year in revenue for the college.
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