lews Clackamas Print Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007 3 FINANCES: Tuition increase possible cntinued from FINANCES, Page 1 iWhat we have previously recorded hss than what we imagined,” Wilton a, “and that spells trouble for our jet.” ccording to Joanne Truesdell, presi- of-the college, a tuition increase 8 be just what is needed. As of now, we are $14 below any ;r college (per credit hour),” Truesdell “We may be lacking resources that tudents need.” . t hough it is only a mere thought at ¡aoint, tuition may increase anywhere 5i-$2 to $5 a year until the budget sta- lesjtiach $1 raised equals $150,000 ird the school’s budget. i an e-mail, Tim Lussier, student rrttment president, voiced concerns nt ani increase. llbviously we are facing a large bud- ieficit,” Lussier said. “I understand . we [need to come up with budget ions. The solution that most con- s me is a tuition increase. A talk of ition increase needs to be balanced other budget solutions.” la™ reasons were shared as to why deficit may occur, but the drop in time enrollment was named the big­ culprit. Clackamas lost 319 students Term 2007, the biggest loss of all munity colleges in’Oregon. /^ast year, enrollment took a dip,” ion said. “We will feel that dip for text three years. The majority of our ral fund revenue is directly related :trollment.” regon is one of many states that mines college funding ba'sed on llment numbers. Those statistics are aged out, and then how much federal , a, school receives is determined by \ 1 [^■^^/«Ay^&efin^ -ihehrbllftieht’“ influence funding for the future. This, year’s drastic change in students will impact government funding, which makes up 76 percent of the overall bud­ get. The rest of the budget is reli­ ant on the 19 percent received from tuition and the 5 per­ cent from other sources. With a tuition increase of $1 per credit already in effect for the next three years, another increase may send students packing. Board member Chuck Clemens questioned the pos­ sibility of a rise in tuition, ask­ ing whether any preliminary thoughts had been made about an increase. Where the money is going is also being considered, as expenditures are expected to rise slightly in the years to come. Currently, 80 percent of the budget goes to personnel services and staffing. The rest is used for debt recovery, materi­ als and other expenses. Recently, the full-time con­ tract was reevaluated and added to the college’s costs. With a part-time faculty contract still in debate, it may also affect the budget. Hopes are being held on lowering cost and raising the incoming funds, but there is very little chance that this can be done without raising tuition. If the problem is not solved, Clackamas will be looking at a serious situation, with the pos­ sibility of not even being able to make payroll in 2010-2011. “I think things are going to O’ ” Wilton 7. , c® said, “and tighten up, Ttfa?s*ncrt Sustdiftable.*^ Until the financial forecast is Gun policy not I affected by judicial decision As of Friday, Nov. South Medford High chool English teacher lirley Katz can no / nger carry her gun to <:hool. . Jackson County ircuit Court Judge G. mold Philip has given Is ruling. According the Associated Press, lilip concluded that the ledford School District rastihe right to enforce s policy.” Tim Gerking, the :hool district’s law- sr, welcomed the rul- ig,,