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The budget battle to close a multibillion-dollar hole in the state's finances means local college students may face fewer class options when school begins next month.
Sierra Community College District President Leo Chavez is expecting cuts of as much as $6 million this year to the Sierra Community College District, which includes campuses in Truckee and Grass Valley. The community college district's budget is approximately $100 million for its five campuses.
The reductions are particularly worrisome at a time when jobs are scarce, unemployed people are returning to school and the state's four-year universities are limiting enrollments in the face of budget cuts — sending students streaming to community colleges.
The impact at the campuses in Grass Valley campus and in Truckee, however, may be less drastic than at the main campus in Rocklin.
And those cuts won't affect building projects: The Grass Valley campus is in the midst of an ambitious effort to remodel and add new facilities, made possible by a $47 million bond passed by western county voters several years ago.
“It doesn't make a lot of sense to limit enrollment while you're expanding the campus, so you'll probably see less impact at (Grass Valley),” Chavez said. “The cuts will most likely be less than what you might see on the main (Rocklin) campus.”
While funding for the operation of community colleges is protected somewhat by Proposition 98 — a two-decade old California law that mandates a minimum level of money for K-14 education — the state's budget shortfall makes funding less certain.
“We have no idea what our funding base is,” said Chavez, who leads the 25,000-student, five-campus system that serves Nevada, Placer and parts of Sacramento and El Dorado counties.
Core classes spared
Sierra College's Board of Trustees has held off on adopting a full budget in part to see how the state's budget crisis plays out, said Trustee Aaron Klein, who represents Nevada County. The college board is deciding whether to spend as much as 10 percent of its reserves to help pay for essential services, which could include salaries and benefits.
Klein doesn't want to balance the budget by gutting the district's $10 million reserve or making severe cuts in services for students, he said.
“That's why we built the reserve,” Klein said. “It's to try to keep our students in classes and our teachers employed.”
The clock is ticking as students make plans for the fall.
“We're going to have to make some reductions in our class schedules, and the longer we have to wait, the more inconvenience it puts on students,” Chavez said.
Because students register for classes now, there is a chance the sections they want may not be available in August, Chavez said.
“When and if we cut classes, we will have to prioritize our offerings,” he said, noting classes that are required for associate degrees or transfers to a four-year institution will be spared.
Local campuses see fewer limitations
Many students who would prefer to start their college education at a California State University or University of California campus may have to choose a community college first because of funding restrictions at that level.
But “there's no funding to accommodate that shift,” Chavez said.
At both Nevada County campuses, a higher proportion of students enroll part-time schedule than at Rocklin. As a result, the cost per capita of educating a student at the Grass Valley campus is higher.
But the Grass Valley “campus does pay for itself,” Chavez said.
Even if lawmakers figure out how to close the budget gap this summer, though, Chavez remained pessimistic about the long-term stability of state funding for the community college system.
“When there's a budget passed, I certainly will have no confidence in it,” Chavez said.
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi,
e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239
Sierra Community College District President Leo Chavez is expecting cuts of as much as $6 million this year to the Sierra Community College District, which includes campuses in Truckee and Grass Valley. The community college district's budget is approximately $100 million for its five campuses.
The reductions are particularly worrisome at a time when jobs are scarce, unemployed people are returning to school and the state's four-year universities are limiting enrollments in the face of budget cuts — sending students streaming to community colleges.
The impact at the campuses in Grass Valley campus and in Truckee, however, may be less drastic than at the main campus in Rocklin.
And those cuts won't affect building projects: The Grass Valley campus is in the midst of an ambitious effort to remodel and add new facilities, made possible by a $47 million bond passed by western county voters several years ago.
“It doesn't make a lot of sense to limit enrollment while you're expanding the campus, so you'll probably see less impact at (Grass Valley),” Chavez said. “The cuts will most likely be less than what you might see on the main (Rocklin) campus.”
While funding for the operation of community colleges is protected somewhat by Proposition 98 — a two-decade old California law that mandates a minimum level of money for K-14 education — the state's budget shortfall makes funding less certain.
“We have no idea what our funding base is,” said Chavez, who leads the 25,000-student, five-campus system that serves Nevada, Placer and parts of Sacramento and El Dorado counties.
Core classes spared
Sierra College's Board of Trustees has held off on adopting a full budget in part to see how the state's budget crisis plays out, said Trustee Aaron Klein, who represents Nevada County. The college board is deciding whether to spend as much as 10 percent of its reserves to help pay for essential services, which could include salaries and benefits.
Klein doesn't want to balance the budget by gutting the district's $10 million reserve or making severe cuts in services for students, he said.
“That's why we built the reserve,” Klein said. “It's to try to keep our students in classes and our teachers employed.”
The clock is ticking as students make plans for the fall.
“We're going to have to make some reductions in our class schedules, and the longer we have to wait, the more inconvenience it puts on students,” Chavez said.
Because students register for classes now, there is a chance the sections they want may not be available in August, Chavez said.
“When and if we cut classes, we will have to prioritize our offerings,” he said, noting classes that are required for associate degrees or transfers to a four-year institution will be spared.
Local campuses see fewer limitations
Many students who would prefer to start their college education at a California State University or University of California campus may have to choose a community college first because of funding restrictions at that level.
But “there's no funding to accommodate that shift,” Chavez said.
At both Nevada County campuses, a higher proportion of students enroll part-time schedule than at Rocklin. As a result, the cost per capita of educating a student at the Grass Valley campus is higher.
But the Grass Valley “campus does pay for itself,” Chavez said.
Even if lawmakers figure out how to close the budget gap this summer, though, Chavez remained pessimistic about the long-term stability of state funding for the community college system.
“When there's a budget passed, I certainly will have no confidence in it,” Chavez said.
To contact Staff Writer David Mirhadi,
e-mail dmirhadi@theunion.com or call 477-4239
