It hasn’t happened yet and there’s no guarantee it will, but Centralia College officials are planning as if the state Legislature will cut $1 billion from its overall budget Thursday when it revises its annual forecast.
Such a reduction in the state budget would translate to a $2 million shortfall in Centralia College’s operating budget through 2012. The revised figures were the subject of Centralia College’s fourth budget forum in an ongoing series in an effort to keep staff and the community abreast of the budgetary situation, the latest of which was held Monday.
In a previous forum held late January, college officials had estimated a total of $1.6 million would need to be cut through the 2011-12 school year. That figure could stand, but the state asked each community college to come up with two additional scenarios: one with an additional 15 percent cut and an additional 30 percent cut from their 2011-12 budgets in preparation for the Legislature’s upcoming forecast.
Vice President of Finance and Administration Steve Ward moderated the forum and said the 15 percent additional cut seemed to be the more reasonable scenario, which would mean the college would face a $2 million shortfall — roughly $400,000 more than originally called for, and deepening the 2011 operating budget shortfall from $667,000 to an estimated $889,000.
“It’s really tough to predict, but given the information we have so far, I think we’ve been able to prepare pretty well,” Ward said. “The figures keep going up, and sometimes it seems tough to keep up, but we have to figure out a way to cut while minimizing the impact to staff and students.”
If the figures stand, Centralia College would have no choice but to cut four non-core programs from its budget, Ward said. Employment Security classes, courses offered at the Lewis County Jail, high school completion courses and classes for the developmentally disabled would all be cut for a savings of roughly $160,000, affecting 54.4 full-time equivalents, or FTEs. The college describes FTEs as students taking a full load of classes.
“We looked at these programs and saw that the cost per FTE in this situation is just too great for the number of people they serve,” Ward said. “We would hate to cut any program, but as the figures go up it’s something we would probably have to do.”
Even with the four programs being cut and $460,000 in combined new revenue from Running Start and tuition collections, the college would still fall short of its goal by $347,000. Ward said administrators are seeking input from staff and all across campus to find new ways to cut costs, one option of which could be furloughs for staff and faculty members.
The administration must complete its final budget by the end of the 2010-11 academic year.
Centralia College is expecting record enrollment for its spring quarter and for more students to continue to receive their education in its halls at the start of the new school year. Tuitions will go up then, but the current revenue projections from the college have not factored in any rate increase as the total hasn’t been set yet.
Ward said even if the college knew how much the new tuition increase could be, such a practice of factoring in such an increase into figures based on current revenue wouldn’t be prudent.
“You have to plan for the worst scenario in case it actually does come to pass,” Ward said. “I think I can speak for everyone when I say I wish we knew some more concrete numbers coming from the state so we knew exactly what we’re dealing with long-term.”
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Christopher Brewer: (360) 807-8235
