Budget Update

The key issue to be decided by a 2/3 vote over the next few weeks is whether or not to place the Governor's revenue package on the ballot in June.  The Republicans are generally not in support of placing an extension of the temporary taxes on the ballot and this could mean a loss of $12.5 billion from the Governor's budget plan.  If the Republicans do agree they are looking for other items to be on the ballot including pension reform and state budget caps.

The good news is that both the Assembly and the Senate have voted down the Governor's proposal to tie funding to a change in the census date.  Instead, budget reductions are likely to be in the form of workload reductions and funding will be provided to serve fewer students.   

At this point in time there is little doubt about the $400 million budget reduction for the California Community College system.  The SBCCD share of this is over $4 million.  Also, it appears that the fee increase from $26 to $36 per unit will be part of the final budget package.  This will reduce the $400 million to about $290 million and our share to about $3 million.

Everyone seems to be talking about the so called "Doomsday Scenario" which happens if the tax extensions do not get on the ballot OR do get on the ballot and are voted down by the citizens.  The Legislative Analysts Office (LAO) has recommended another round of budget reductions to make up for the lost revenue.

For the California Community Colleges this could include a further fee increase to $66 per unit; a 90-unit cap on each student's subsidized credits; reduced funding for basic skills courses; elimination of funding for intercollegiate athletics courses; elimination of funding for repeat of credit PE and fine arts classes; and other reductions.

The District and the colleges have been hard at work developing various budget scenarios to meet the challenges ahead.  While we do not have any final decisions in place it is safe to say that we will have fewer classes available for students; more positions held vacant; possible reductions in contracts from 12 to 11 or 10 months and possible reallocation of resources between the campuses and District Office and other savings recommendations.

All decisions that are subject to collective bargaining will work their way through that process.

The Board of Trustees, at the February 17th meeting, approved a series of Budget Directives which we will follow in the development of the final budget. 

Our current budget scenario still allows for full funding of step and column increases, no layoffs, if possible, of college and District full-time, contract employees and modest increases in health benefit costs.   

I will keep you posted as new information is available. 

"Teach" encourages a career in teaching   

Notes from Chancellor's Cabinet   

Chancellor's Cabinet meets twice a month to discuss issues of District-Wide concern. In my continuing effort to have a transparent administration, I would like to share some of the topics discussed, as appropriate.

1. The student senates at both campuses passed a resolution to phase out smoking on campus.  These resolutions will be considered by the campus shared governance councils over the next 60 days.  A second resolution to enforce existing policy/procedure and to fine anyone who violates the smoking policy will be reviewed with the Police Chief.
2. As per the M.O.U. with the C.T.A., one sabbatical leave for each campus will be recommended to the Board of Trustees for the 2011-2012 academic year.  The recommendations from the campus sabbatical committees are due to the Chancellor by March 15th.   
3. Lengthy lists of deferred maintenance for each campus were reviewed and a decision was made to allocate $570,000 from restricted redevelopment funds to make necessary deferred maintenance repairs.  These funds are restricted for facility improvements that are not a part of the bond program.
4. Both campuses are working on the implementation of the transfer degree legislation AB1440 and programs are moving through the campus Curriculum Committees to meet state deadlines.
5. The District will advocate to its political representatives to restore PELL grants for 2011-2012 to their full funding.
6. Revision of the contract submission process was discussed and will be introduced at District Assembly to improve the time it takes to process certain contract agreements.  This action is in response to recommendations made through Program Review. 

Computer Replacement Program 

A program to replace over 3,000 computers over a five-year period, District-wide, is being implemented next academic year.  The program will be funded by savings in the Measure P bond program and would greatly benefit students, faculty and staff, many of whom are still using computers that are several years old and cannot run current software applications.

The strategy will not only upgrade the computing capacity in labs, classrooms and offices across the District but will position us to take advantage of coming faster Internet connections and remote computer diagnostics that will lower the overall cost of ownership.

Sustainability Committee to Meet