Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 8, 1981)
Q) Vol. XIV, No. 20 Hakanson ponders possible fiscal fiasco Jy David Hayden )f The Print For College President John iakanson, passage of the Col- bge’s serial levy on March 31 is ■solution of only a small part of a funding problem that may greatly change the College and the way it serves the communi-, ty- .‘i think we’ll get along well the first year (1981-82),” Hakanson said. “After that, Staff photo by Duffy Coffman e spotlights are preparing as the Drama Department’s he Odd Couple” aims for rehearsal. Details on page 3. we’ll be facing tighter and tighter budgets. For ’82 (1982-83), I would expect to see some pretty severe pro gram cuts unless the state comes through with more fun ding than expected.” Four major factors have con tributed to the College’s ' deteriorating financial position: difficulty in securing funds from the College tax district, repeated cuts in state aid to community colleges, growing student enrollment and the ef fects of inflation. Although it isn’t a cure for the College’s funding pro blems, the recently passed three-year serial levy will keep the College open and operating. It passed after two other tax proposals (a tax base and a three-year construction levy and operating levy) failed. Passage of the latest levy assures that the College will stay open, but doesn’t allow for any growth, and may force cuts in programs considered by many to be vital. “One of the reasons we received voter support with this levy is the elimination of the construction levy,” Hakanson said. Without funding, from the district or the state, no con struction can be expected. The livestock facility, already budgeted for ip the current construction levy, is the last new building planned at this time. “There are funds left in the current construction budget,” Hakanson said. “It’s one possb ble source for funds to help cushion the ’81-’82 budget.” “The big unanswered ques- '' tion at this time is state fun ding,” Hakanson suggested. Although the state’s revenue to the College is currently budgeted at $3,799,000, it’s likely that the state will con tinue recent trends and reduce it further. The first sigh of reduction in state aid came in the 1979-80 state appropriations, - which limited the enrollment increase the state would subsidize to 2 percent in 1979 and 2 percent in 1980. During 1979-80, the College had an actual growth rate of 8 percent, and 9 percent in 1980-81. Any growth over the state’s limit has had to be supported by the College without the usual assistance from the state. The second cut in state fun ding came. September 1980. State' revenue shortages resulted in a $300,000 cut in funds from the 1980-81 Col lege budget. The third round of cuts came in the governor’s .1981-83 budget proposal. It allowed no funding for growth in com- munity ‘ college enrollment, despite the governor’s official expectation of expansion. College administrators received notice, although not official, at an Oregon Com munity College Association meeting Feb. 20, that an addi tional 10 percent cut in state aid Is likely. If 10 percent is the figure, and many believe it will be higher, it would mean a loss of $405,000 to the College for 1981-82. “The governor has proposed several bills to increase state revenue,” commented Hakan son. “His proposed budget is dependent upon all of the pro posals passing the legislature. If one or more doesn’t, we will face additional cuts. We’re assured of losing part of our budget, 10 perceht is an estimate.” The “catch 22” of the situa tion, though, is the state posi tion on construction funds. Although Clackamas is ranked second behind Rogue Com munity College for state funds for construction, the governor has no money budgeted for it. Considering thè problems in gaining funds for the College, the conclusions are simple. Within the next few years, the College will not only have to reduce spending in many areas, it also may have to eliminate programs, limit enrollment and raise tuition. “What would you do?” Hakanson asked. “You have to find a way to limit student enrollment so your present faculty won’t be overloaded.” An option the Board may have . to consider is closing enrollment. A college closes enrollment when it sets a limit on how many students it will allow to enroll, and then refuses any admissions applica tions after that. “It’s totally foreign to the idea of a community college,” Hakanson said. “One possible solution is to increase tuition. If tuition was $1,000, we wouldn’t have a problem with enrollment,” Hakanson il lustrated. “The funding problem is not going to go away next year, or the year after. It is something that we’re going to have to live with on a long-term basis,” commented Hakanson. residential memo spells out pecking order Bl Rick Obritschkewitsch steps being considered, many ■The College, levy was passed of the College employees ■ a special election on March didn’t think it would come 31, but before this happened, down to layoffs. Bps were outlined as to what ' Staff support union leader Bule take place if the levy Ron Hoodye send, “If the Bdn’t passed. There were levies don’t get passed, the Bed feelings among staff school will already be closed Bout at least one of the steps. before it comes down to people ■One of the steps that was getting laid off.” Bntioned in President John Hoodye also stated, “If the Bkar.son’s Feb. 27 letter to levy doesn’t get passed until B College staff was that all the June election, the school Bartment heads were re- will have to cut down what Bested to prepare lists of staff they’re asking for so much that ■sitions which would have to the school may be open by fall, Belim’nated if the College had but it won’t be the school as we' Bed to pass a tax levy by the " know it—the school will be B of May. working from a bare bones ■he letter came about -after budget.” B November tax base pro The faculty union leader, Ira Bal and February bid for an Heard, agreed with Hoodye Berating levy and construction that the College would have ■ both f ailed closed- before - ■ a- ■ layoff' would - ■ stated, “If the levy isn’t passed by June, a lot of people can’t afford to wait around, and the College will lose a lot of the faculty if the levy isn’t passed .until fall, and faculty members are asked to come back.” Many of the veteran College employees realized that there have been times in previous years that College levies haven’t passed until late elec tions. Craig Lesley, a College English instructor, stated, “We had trouble a couple of times before that the levy wasn’t passed until late in the school year. I’m convinced that this in stitution needs to be here, and I hope people realize that. K’s' possible that it won’t be passed until September or October.” Le Isey, > who has be e n an in - years, wasn’t planning to be looking for other work even if the College had closed down for the summer , session. He said, “It would be a pity if the College were to close down during the summer session because a lot of people need to take classes during that time, such as law enforcement and nursing students.” “I’d stay around and try to get the levy passed-there’s always unemployment,” con tinued Lesley. Kim Faddis, testing secretary, stated, “I would look for another position if the Col lege were to close,” to contrast what Lesley had said, “but I would come back if the College were to open again,” she add ed- ., .Before, anyone could , be laid’ centimeters a decision by the College Board. It would have to be determined that that is what is needed to help stretch the budget. The layoffs would take place according to employee contract language. The support staff, for instance, would be laid off ac cording to seniority, which would mean, the first to be laid off would be employees most recently hired. The order of layoffs for the faculty would go as follows: first, those faculty members working part-time, then those holding term appointments, and finally those with continu ing appointments. In any case, those faculty members being laid off must be laid off by persons of equal positions, or those in the same LI ■