College cuts jobs
Local entity faces new financial paradigm
By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Friday, April 3, 2009 11:11 AM PDT
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| Jonathan Gillen (standing), Treasure Valley Community College comptroller and Randy Griffin dean of administrative services are part of the budget discussions at the college. |
ONTARIO — Facing a possible shortfall of about $500,000 in state revenue for the next biennium, Treasure Valley Community College Wednesday announced the first budget reductions for the next fiscal year — which begins July 1 — that will eliminate seven positions in an effort to protect curriculum offerings and key student services.
Funding issues face every Oregon community college, TVCC public information officer Abby Lee said.
Less than a year ago, community colleges were anticipating state funding would be near $550 million. But with the loss of revenue to the state general fund during the past several months, officials are looking at $440 million.
“At that level, TVCC faces a $522,404 shortfall in state revenue in the next biennium,” Lee said.
Three faculty positions have been eliminated for the coming year. A drafting position, that was vacant, will not be refilled, and two temporary contracts, one in the agriculture department and the other in the math department, will not be renewed.
Four professional staff positions will also be gone. They include cuts in information support services, institutional research, multi-cultural student services and the WINGS program. College officials are looking at ways to absorb those duties into other positions to continue as many support services as possible.
“There are no easy answers to the budget issues, and we knew that consolidating and eliminating positions would be necessary in order to deal with the state budget cuts,” Randy Griffin, dean of administrative services, said.
College officials had met with affected staff members by noon Wednesday and the full campus was notified by e-mail Wednesday afternoon.
“Employee groups are getting together to discuss what they can give (to help balance the budget),” Lee said. “We’re going to look at programs.”
The job cuts will present the college with new challenges.
“It’s hard,” Lee said. “It means additional work loads.”
On the bright side, TVCC’s student numbers are good.
“Our enrollment numbers are pretty good,” Lee said.
Last spring TVCC’s enrollment was 1,505, Lee said. This spring the enrollment was more than 1,600.
“Our retention is good. Students are coming back,” she said.
