Education officials are receiving mixed signals out of Topeka regarding how schools and colleges will be funded, Allen County Community College trustees were told Thursday.
Steve Troxel, vice president for finance and operations and ACCC President John Masterson briefly discussed the state funding leg of post-secondary schools — universities, junior colleges and technical schools.
First the bad news: incoming Gov. Sam Brownback has pledged not to replace expiring federal stimulus dollars that helped prop up school budgets across the state over the past two years — and the state is looking at a gap of more than $550 million in tax revenue compared to anticipated expenses. If no other revenue is found, an across-the-board spending cut for all state entities would be about 10 percent, Troxel said.
But while Brownback said the stimulus funds would not be replaced, he did vow to increase state aid to schools.
And Masterson has pointed to a new funding formula for community colleges and technical schools that would essentially keep funding levels static for schools such as ACCC.
“That’s a much better scenario,” Masterson said, “especially because we’ve lost enrollment.”
With those thoughts in mind, Troxel has begun the budget planning process for 2011-12. He has directed department heads to have their spending requests in by February so ACCC trustees can begin to determine whether they will need to increase local property taxes or tuition rates.
ENROLLMENT for spring semester followed the same trend as fall, said Randy Weber, vice president for student affairs. As of Thursday, 2,835 students were enrolled at ACCC, compared for 2,942 one year prior, a loss of about 5 percent. Enrollment dropped at both ACCC campuses, Iola’s and Burlingame’s, while enrollment for online classes continues to grow. Online enrollment is up about 3 percent in total students and 5.6 percent in full-time equivalent (FTE) hours enrolled.
CONSTRUCTION of a six-plex housing unit on White Boulevard may not start until late spring, Troxel said.
A variance is needed from the Iola Planning Commission because the neighborhood along White Boulevard is zoned for single families; a six-plex is a multi-family unit. The earliest the college can meet with the board is February, with approval following in March.
The bidding process would then take until May or so before construction can begin.
College officials are confident the variance will be issued because nearby residences are also multi-family, notably Parkford Apartments and ACCC-owned housing units.
THE COLLEGE received a clean financial audit for the 2009-10 academic year. Phil Jarred of Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips PA reviewed the audit and said ACCC met all statutory requirements with its spending and reporting.
Following a 60-minute executive session, trustees also extended Masterson’s contract through the end of 2012.
