News Releases
News from
Lane Community College, Eugene, Oregon
Public information officer: Joan Aschim, (541) 463-5591, aschimj@lanecc.edu
For release January 19, 2005
LCC releases budget projections
EUGENE, OR – Lane Community College is projecting budget shortfalls for the next two years. A deficit of $2.9 million is forecast for 2005/06, and a deficit of $4.3 million is forecast for 2006/07.
Factors driving the deficits include a continued decline in state funding, and enrollment loss following previous funding shortfalls which were addressed through program reductions and tuition increases.
There are several unknowns affecting the 2005/06 projection including the state supreme court decision on PERS legislation, health care cost increases, the state formula for distributing community college funding, the legislative session, and others.
“One thing is sure – these projections will change,” President Mary Spilde advised staff and the college’s Board of Education in presentations on January 12. “Hopefully, some of the unknowns will go our way and our deficits will be reduced.”
In the meantime, the president proposed short-term and long-term strategies. The college will focus on cost containment to narrow next year’s gap. One-time reductions will be considered and enrollment and retention efforts will be increased. Planning will continue now through May for board adoption of the 2005/06 budget in June.
Major program reductions or tuition and fee increases will be moved to 2006/07. A process to identify reductions is being prepared for presentation to the board this May. Decision-making would begin in fall 2005.
“We do not want to put the college and community through this painful process unless we absolutely must do so,” said President Spilde. “Waiting until there is a little more certainty allows us to approach the difficult task of budget balancing carefully, and with as many of the unknowns settled as possible.”
The board endorsed the president’s two-year strategy. Her presentation and budget projections are available at http://2011sitearchive.lanecc.edu/budget/0506/budget0506.html
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