Last modified: Wednesday, July 25, 2007 11:15 AM PDT College leaders pleased with fiscal plan blueprint By Larry Meyer — Argus Observer ONTARIO — Treasure Valley Community College officials said they are happy about the amount of funding approved by the Oregon Legislature, a figure considerably more than Gov. Ted Kulongoski budgeted and beyond the limit set by the co-chairs of the Legislature’s Joint Ways and Means Committee. TVCC president Jim Sorensen said earlier this month the final figure slated for community colleges from the state — excluding capital spending — was about $511 million. The $511 million figure means TVCC will gain about $500,000 above what the college budgeted. Taking a conservative approach, Sorensen said college officials had budgeted toward the lower estimate of what community colleges in the state might receive for funding, which was less than $500 million. What the TVCC board could choose to do with the extra funds will be discussed over the coming months. “We have not budgeted the extra money,” he said. Some options for the extra money include holding the funds as a possible cushion against future funding reductions or to use as the college’s match for a capital spending project — or use the cash to start up new programs. Sorensen said there is a list of “add-ons” the TVCC board will look at for possible funding, particularly as the new academic year draws closer. “They are not critical things, but important things,” he said. College officials are looking at programs to beef up the professional-technical offerings. “We’re looking at diesel (mechanics) and viticulture (grape growing)” Sorensen said. And, there have been discussions about adding preparatory classes in the health care field. “It’s a very expensive program to start,” Sorensen said of diesel mechanics, but it is a program college officials have been discussing with farmers and truckers. The college did get a grant for a continuing program to train bilingual teacher aides, Sorensen said. On the funding for capital projects, TVCC’s proposed classroom building, which includes new science labs, was one place short of funding, and Sorensen said it should be high on the list for the next legislative session.