|
|
|
Last Updated: Jul 30th, 2010 - 19:46:44 |
USD 480 debates a 4 mill levy increase
Dipping into cash reserves, gaining more state aid in the community college operating grant and cutting out infrastructure projects helped Seward County Community College/Area Technical School administration prepare a 2011 budget with a recommended increase of .527 in the local tax mill levy.
The SCCC/ATS Board of Trustees approved the publication of the 2010-11 fiscal year general funds budget for $15.3 million with the second mill levy increase for county tax payers since 2004.
SCCC/ATS President Duane Dunn called the budget tight.
"It was one of the more challenging budgets we had put together in years, said Dunn. We did get a little more state aid for the community college (operating) grant than we did last year but we lost some in the technical education grant.
This past spring the college was faced with a little more than a $1 million loss in the county tax levy because of reduced county valuations. A 29 percent increases in employee health insurance has also added budget stress.
Meanwhile, the technical school funding was threatened by a pending lawsuit requiring a hold on distributing state funds until the lawsuit was settled. The lawsuit is still pending, but the Kansas Board of Regents were able to distribute funding for 2011.
The Kansas Board of Regents awarded SCCC/ATS $1.58 million in the community college operation grant, an increase of $138,983 from last year. However, in technical education school funding SCCC/ATS received $1.48 million, a decrease of $180,158 from last year.
The situation SCCC/ATS faced called for a half-million dollar dip into its cash reserves to even out some of the losses in revenue sources.
Dunn said college staff was able to eliminate purchases and infrastructure upgrades in order to keep offering the same level of student services and not impact college staffing.
"We had started out estimating we would have to go to a mill (increase), said Dunn. As we watched it, we didn't spend some things we anticipated. We made some cuts.
Instead of replacing computer labs, the college has opted for software upgrades. An expense is involved but not to the level of purchasing new computers and software licenses.
The budget restrictions may place stress on some students. Dunn said administration will look at registration, class size and may be required to cut a section or combine classes.
"It becomes a bit of an inconvenience for some students who can't get that 6 p.m. class they really need in their schedule, said Dunn. We do have a lot of part-time students. It may impact wither they can finish their degree on time. We are really trying to be careful in combining class sections. We don't want to cause too much distress for the students.
A public hearing of the budget will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the college board room.
The headaches involved with the fiscal year 2011 budget may be over, however, Dunn is not looking forward to next year's discussions. The college will lose federal stimulus dollars awarded to the institution since 2009 to fund maintenance projects.
"Our big fear is the state economy, it doesn't look like it is going to be a whole lot better as far as a year from now, said Dunn. The local economy, Liberal and Seward County still are strong compared to other areas of the country. We don't see a change in valuations. Next year's budget will be as equally or as more challenging as this years.
USD 480 faces budget troubles
Another local school board is looking at a mill levy increase for their upcoming budget.
The USD 480 Board of Education held a work session to discuss the proposed budget for the 2010-11 school year which includes a mill levy increase of 4.22 mills Monday night.
The increase comes after last year's budget had a capital outlay of zero mills due to a resolution to raise mills knocked down by voters in a special election. The increase would be over 2.5 mills compared to the 2008 budget.
Board members debated amending the proposed budget to a lower capital outlay near 3 mills. Board members in favor of examining the budget to produce a lower capital outlay were Cherly Louderback, President Reid Petty, and Vice President Tammy Sutherland-Abbott. Board members in favor of the proposed budget were Dan Diepenbrock, Nick Hatcher, Stacy Johnson and Jim Jury. An unofficial vote was taken to gather consensus.
A public hearing on the budget and an official vote will be taken at the Aug. 9 meeting.
© 2008 Southwest Times
|
|
|
