Clark Looking at Significant Budget Cut

Clark is staring straight down the barrel of another round of budget cuts.

Last month, Washington State economic forecasters projected a $1.4 billion shortfall with respect to anticipated revenue in the 2011-2013 biennial budget. This translates to a loss of at least $3.4 million from Clark's $60 million budget, according to Vice President of Administrative Services Bob Williamson. The cut could come either in late December or early January, he said.

At present, Clark receives approximately $24.7 million from the state, according to budget statistics. President Bob Knight said that he is preparing for a 15 percent reduction in this amount.

"I've told everybody that it will be at least a 15 percent cut," Knight said. "I'm not saying that each department is going to get that, but you need to be prepared to take a 15 percent cut - and start saving now."

Instruction currently receives 59 percent of the college's budget, with Student Affairs at 12 percent and instructional support/administrative services at 10.4 percent.

Knight said that he has already looked at making cuts in student services, in college funding to Health Services and the art gallery, and in the frequency of trash pick-up. Another route the college is pursuing, he said, is increasing the international student population in order to benefit from the increased tuition out-of-state students pay.

"If there's demand there - and there is - then you've gotta take a look at that," Knight said about international student enrollment.

Vice President of Instruction Tim Cook said that the bulk of the cut - about $2 million - will affect instruction.

"I'm concerned that people don't quite grasp the gravity of it, but I think they're starting to," he said. "A 15 percent cut means about $2 million for instruction, which is a significant amount of money and classes."

At the state level, Gov. Gregoire has called for a special legislative session to begin Nov. 28. Representatives will look at ways to recoup the projected $1.4 billion shortfall, with taxes a possible complement to budget cuts. Taxes, if agreed upon, could mean that the hit to Clark is reduced.

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges has already approved an average statewide tuition hike of 12 percent effective the 2011-2012 academic year. This is the maximum amount allowed under the Washington State 2011-2013 Operating Budget. The increase is 13 percent for full-time students and 11 percent for part-timers.

In an Oct. 5 email to faculty union members, Clark College Association of Higher Education President Kim Sullivan expressed concern that administration is overlooking the possibility of tapping into college reserve funds to accommodate cuts. "We have heard no discussion of use of college reserves. We should be provided, at the very least, with documentation of the benchmarks to be reached to access reserves."

Board of Trustees policy dictates that the school hold 10 percent of its overall operating budget in reserve. The amount currently stands at $5.9 million.

Creating additional worry for faculty is the fact that the SBCTC declared financial emergency Sept. 14. The decision makes it easier to lay off certain faculty members. According to a Sept. 9 SBCTC press release, "state law provides for an expedited or streamlined layoff process of tenured or tenure-track faculty during a financial emergency. Such a declaration does not mandate layoffs nor require colleges to take any additional personnel actions unless the local trustees deem those actions necessary."

"As far as all the cuts we're getting, I don't think we'll ever get back to where we were before as far as funding from the state," Knight said. "That's why we're looking at (expanding) the international program. That's why we're looking toward the Foundation to assist us, and at increasing class sizes. Those would make us more efficient."