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ews
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Clackamas Print 3
UDGET: Tuition on the rise
Continued from Page 1
iccording to Wilton, the projected
e average for community colleges
be $80 to $81 per credit hour for
on. This will still keep Clackamas
w the state average and will still
[100 lower than the state average
[1,352.22 for a student taking 15
jit hours, including the increase in
, Clackamas is projected to be at
52.50.
lot the board will still have to
rove the change in tuition, and
iay not be the amount that the
ige requests. Last year the college
eased tuition but at a lower amount
was approved by the board.
[don’t have any control over what
board does. My guess is that they
ping to approve it just given the
ronment that we are in,” said
on.
iven the same enrollment, a $1
¡ase will generate $180,000 from
on and $210,000 from student
lology fees.
his budget deficit is caused partially
i recommended decrease in state
ort. Gov. John Kitzhaber released
recommended budget for next
and community college support
ped by $40 million. Currently the
legislature is still in session, and
ludget has not been approved and
to the governor for his signature,
ibers of the college’s Board of
ation recently went to Salem to
y the legislature on March 24,
rding to college President Joanne
sdell.
it this time, it is difficult to say
the budget for community
>es will be passed and sent on
t governor for signature. I have
that most budgets will not be
d until after the May 12 Revenue
iast,” stated Truesdell in an email.
the legislature has the power
nend the recommended budget
;ubmit it for approval, the hope
it they will either keep it at the
level recommended by Kitzhaber or
preferably increase the amount of
support. >•
“It’s also possible that it will
be lower,” said Wilton. “It’s really
uncertain. It’s really not a good idea to
grab onto a higher number at this point
and start spending that money because
it absolutely isn’t here yet.”
According to the report, the college
will use $1 million a year from the
school’s reserve fund. Board policy
requires that the college maintain
a minimum standing balance of 6
percent of our operating budget.
“With all .of our discretionary
reserves, we’re going to have around
$8.6 million and about $2.6 million
is the minimum. And so $6 million is
the amount that is available over and
above the minimum,” said Wilton.
The college put out a survey fort
students and staff to fill out to gauge
what they thought the college should
cut or do to increase revenue or
decrease spending along with meetings
with deans and budget forums. As a
result, one action taken was to not fill
vacant positions, more than 20 of them
are spread out throughout the college.
They even eliminated the dean of
business services position inside
Wilton’s department.
Unfortunately, the college did have
to lay two people off. Two classified
staff members, one in the public affairs
and another in the student success
offices, were given notice that their
last day at Clackamas will be June 30
of this year.
“It’s not personal, but it’s looking at
certain positions and deciding where
we possibly can do without or do
things a different way,” said Wilton.
“It has nothing to do with these people
individually; it has to do with their job
responsibilities.”
The marketing project coordinator
of the public affairs department, Janet
Paulson, explained how the college
was able to eliminate these two
positions.
“The college was able to minimize
staff layoffs in part due to the
announcement of several retirements in
the weeks before budget decisions were
made,” Paulson stated'in an email.
The report also includes a small list of
items that will be changed or restricted
as well, such as “.... tighter controls
on travel, supplies and food; even
more focus on energy conservation;
squeezing more efficiencies from
our liability insurance program and
bookstore.” Other items such as an
early retirement incentive are still
Staff Reduction
Facing an $8.5 million deficit, the college has recommended cuts and
increases to close the gap. This chart represents the amount of money each
cut or increase will save.
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u
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Illustration by Nathan Sturgess Clackamas Print
?tter to the editor:
udent speaks out about the issues
m a full time honor student that have aided our country to
; Manufacturing Department develop and become successful since
transferred to Clackamas the Industrial Revolution.
lunity College in 2009. I
Without the education that
like to express my voice on CCC has provided us, countless
lof 'my cohorts in regard to the industries would be impacted and
discussion and proposal of the essentially dead in the water without
Measure.
our troubleshooting and technical
tan understand the hesitation capabilities. Although our school has
my tax payers would have good equipment in comparison to
looking at tax increases that other community colleges, we still
nay encounter. I would like fall short in the eyes of our potential
ourage an alternative way of employers.
ig. As 1 write this letter to you,
“Why would this be?” you ask.
ct on the ease and accessibility When our potential employers
hnology and the people that are seeking out qualified and
»orked over the years to bring experienced machinists, they are
tury for everyday use.
lookihg for how their company can
anted, I am not some computer continue to flourish alongside with
ter that works for Intel or new technologies being developed
soft, but the tools they use to daily. This experience requires
« the technology we often equipment that CCC does not have
)r granted began in the hands funding for.
hinists.
As a result, a new graduate may
ne common stereotypes of be able to find employment within
lists are that they have no our industry but not at the industry
ion and this was a trade they standard and expectations. This can
id in Job Corps or in the mean a pay differential from $20 per
y. Contrary to this notion, we hour to a potential $50 per hour.
feted, hard working citizens
Currently, some of the equipment
awaiting board approval.
Initially the report stated that Wilton
and his team will be making a detailed
budget plan to be approved for next
year, but with the uncertainty of the
state budget they will be delaying that
meeting.
“It looks like we’re not going to
meet until we have a better idea of
state funding,” said Wilton. “Such
as if funding were different from
the governor’s budget, we could
incorporate that somehow in the
budget.”
is 40 years old and constantly
breaking. Due to the age of those
machines, parts are very difficult
to locate, are costly to repair and
can cause a student back log of
projects needed to be completed
prior to the end of the term.
By allowing this bond to pass,
our department would not only
have the access to upgrade the
equipment but to also be highly
valued in our community for
training such uniquely qualified
and professional machinist.
While holding this newspaper,
I encourage you to reflect upon
how far the technology has
improved in the world of news
and media. You can thank the
machinist who built the printing
press and has continued to
provide the tools needed to keep
people informed and educated.
It is my hope that while reading
my testimony, students, readers
and taxpayers may appreciate the
insight I have provided for an
industry often forgotten.
u 'Uruianùu
flir èrgo? of
prifme
Proposed Part-time
Faculty Increase
Respectfully, Tony Holmes
Corrections
In issue 16’s article “Students should demand college accountability” Nevin Halvorson and
ristopher Thomson’s names were misspelled. Also, it is the college Board of Education, not
ickamas County.
Student Tuition/Fee
Increase