Sierra Community College District trustees laid off seven employees this week as they grapple with a more than $2 million deficit heading into next year.

And, for a second straight year, the college will depend heavily on reserves to balance sagging revenues in its general fund budget.

The school's board of directors voted in a Tuesday meeting at Truckee to lay off the seven employees in the next school year. In addition, 13 additional positions will remain unfilled as employees retire.

The college is expected to dip into its $9.2 million reserve fund to help bridge the deficit gap, a trustee said. Next year's proposed budget is about $90 million, down from $92.6 million this year.

“We built those reserves for a reason,” said Aaron Klein, who represents Nevada City on the college's board. “We built them to weather a fiscal storm and, instead, ended up with a hurricane.”

Last year the board approved about $2.4 million in reserves to shore up the budget and could use close to $2 million more next year. The board didn't eliminate any faculty positions this year, instead cutting mainly support staff at the school's main campus in Rocklin.

Further cuts could come if the governor's revised budget, released today, includes additional reductions to community college funding.

“Nobody is saying anything until Friday,” said Sue Michaels, a college spokeswoman. “We hope there won't be more cuts, but (the legislature) is in a tight spot.”

The laid-off employees could find other jobs within the college, Michaels said.

‘More stability' needed

But the college needs to wean itself from relying on its reserves, Klein said.

“I'd like to see our budget have more stability, and get back to a balanced budget by 2011-12,” Klein said.

Staffing levels won't change at Sierra College's Nevada County campus, but they won't grow, either, said Dean Stephanie Ortiz.

“We will have a very, very trim staff,” Ortiz said. If unexpected staff absences occur, no money is available to fill positions temporarily, Ortiz said. “Sierra College needs to be careful and prudent with all of its resources. We're committed to providing the appropriate levels of service, given the district's fiscal situation.”

To contact Staff Writer Kyle Magin, e-mail kmagin@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4239.

Martin announces retirement

Sierra Community College District Trustee Bill Martin has announced his retirement after his term expires this year. He has represented the Auburn area on the board since 2006.

Martin's is one of four seats on the board of trustees up for election this November, including two in Nevada County.

Grass Valley representative Nancy Palmer told The Union in April she would seek a fifth term this fall. Other seats up for election include Dave Ferrari's Truckee-Tahoe position and Board President Barbara Vineyard's Lincoln seat.

Sierra College graduation

The public is welcome to celebrate commencement at the Nevada County Campus of Sierra College at 5 p.m. today. It is scheduled to take place outdoors in front of the bell tower on the upper level of campus.

Seven Ghidotti Early College High School students are scheduled to receive their associate's degrees along with the college's regular graduates. The occasion marks the school's first graduating class.

“The performance of the Ghidotti Early High School Students is stellar,” said Nevada County Campus Dean Stephanie Ortiz. “They do double duty by attending both high school and college, and they excel.”

The public is directed to park in lots 1, 3, 4 and 6.