The Clackamas print., March 13, 2019, Page 5, Image 5

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investment as a way of supplementing
the college’s PERS budget.
Both board members concluded that
regardless of the Current cost, it is a
fixed issue. Though benefits can be
lowered for current employees, those
who have already retired must receive
the b e n efits they were prom ised,
making it difficult to reduce the cost
PERS places on the school today.
“ PERS is just one factor contributing
to tuition increases,” said Alissa Mahar,
the vice president of College Services at
CCC in an email. “ It is one of the largest
expense increases in the college’ s
expense budget, but also enrollment
and state funding play a part in tuition
rates. Because all community colleges in
Oregon have the same funding model,
it should be noted that all community
colleges are facing continued decline
of state funding support.”
Like Hunt, Mahar noted property tax
revenue as an issue, stating is has been
flat, without a supplemental increase
in fu n d in g, leading to less revenue
available for the college to use. She
also noted a slight decline in enrollment
at CCC, which has led to an additional
decrease in available funds.
“ Finally,” Mahar said, “ state funding
has not kept pace with inflation and
the costs o f current service levels
com m unity colleges need.. W ithout
increased fu n d in g from the state
le g isla tu re and p rop erty ta x e s,
community Colleges must either make
cuts, raise tuition or a combination of
both.”
Mahar did note that when the college
observed the escalation in PERS payout
projections several years ago, a reserve
fund was set up to preserve a surplus
in the general fund.
“ At this point,” Mahar said, “ the fund
has reached $3 million to help offset
the future impacts of PERS increases.
However, this fund will not last long
without increased funding from the
state.”
Mahar, unfortunately, did not grant
m uch hope to those who hope for
tuition costs to stabilize.
“ In order to keep pace with inflation
and increased costs associated with
providing the services students need,”
M ahar said, “ along w ith uncertain
funding from the state, it is expected
tuition will continue to rise. However,
the college is always looking for ways
to help students save m oney, such
as the free shuttle service, reduced
transit passes, financial aid resources,
scholarships and the Oregon Promise.”
Mahar also stated that it is important
to remember that PERS impact is state­
wide, resulting from past management
and policies.
“ These past actions are im pacting
today’s workforce and employers from
a cost containment standpoint,” Mahar
said. “ Students are seeing the impacts
of past PERS decisions now, because
increased revenues are needed to cover
Increased expenditures. ”
Tim Cook, CGC’s president, reiterated
some of the same concerns as the other
members of the college leadership.
“ In my mind, PERS is a state issue
that’s been around for, gosh, I’ve been
hearing about PERS since the early
2000s and what an issue that was going
to b e,” Cook said.
Though a state issue, Cook said
that the issue im pacts the college,
specifically college tuition.
“ It’s part of this overall kind of issue
about the cost of the college and is the
college paying for its share,” Cook said,
“ and it’ s not, the state is not paying
for its share.”
Both Hunt and Chaimov suggested
student involvement as one of the best
ways to elicit a response from Oregon
legislation, specifically regarding the
lack of funding for community colleges
from the state. Each suggested students
try to contact their legislators, perhaps
even, make the trip to Salem to speak
with them directly if it is within their
means.
The college board of education will
discuss the proposed tuition increase
at its meeting on March 13.
Since the early 2000s, college tuition has more than doubled as a result
of multiple issues including PERS and a decline in state funding,
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March 13, 2019