Posted on 02/01/2003 7:47:24 AM PST by Theodore R.
Community colleges say budget-cut order could be devastating
AUSTIN (AP) — No summer classes. Professors and staff laid off. Higher tuition costs or taxes.
The state's community colleges say those are the potential consequences of the 7 percent state budget cut ordered by Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and House Speaker Tom Craddick.
The Republicans last week demanded $700 million in cuts to help Texas close a projected $1.8 billion shortfall for fiscal year 2003.
Perry and Craddick say education is their top priority.
"It is because without an educated work force, we can't attract industry," Craddick said this week. "We have not funded higher education the way we should have, and I think we ought to do that."
Yet only public education, parts of Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program were exempted from last week's order.
The cuts would cost two-year colleges a combined $64.3 million in state funding be tween now and Aug. 31, according to a letter sent to the leaders from the Texas Association of Community Colleges.
The association represents Texas' 50 public community college districts that educate nearly 1 million students, more than 44 percent of the state's post-secondary students.
The letter said each college is unique and would be affected differently. But in general, losing $64 million could mean cutting summer classes; faculty and staff layoffs; higher tuition or local property taxes; limits or cuts to student services such as advising; and stopping the use of college facilities for community events, including local school district activities.
The results of the cuts "would be devastating for our colleges," wrote Reynaldo Gar cia, executive director of the association. "It is not a decision that should be made lightly. It is a decision that should be avoided."
College officials say their schools educate Texans from all economic and ethnic backgrounds, many who could not otherwise afford higher education.
"Not to fund the kind of programs we offer is like eating your seed corn. If you want a prosperous economy, you have to have trained people. We're the people who do that," said William Wenrich, chancellor of the Dallas County Com munity College District.
Angelina Community Col lege President Larry Phillips said Friday his school is al ready struggling to meet the needs of larger-than-anticipated student enrollment with its $13 million annual budget.
Losing any of its $8.2 million in state funding could mean cuts in summer classes or the nursing program the Lufkin school established to help with a state shortage in the profession, he said.
"If community colleges are not exempted from this reduction, I don't see how it could not have a disastrous effect on work force education and training programs for the Texas economy," Phillips said.
The state's largest four-year universities are left with tough decisions, too. The University of Texas and Texas A&M University systems have both announced hiring freezes and travel cutbacks.
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