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| For Immediate Release | Contact: Frances Squire |
| January 14, 2008 | Phone: (559) 934-2134 |
West Hills College District poised to deal with tight budget
While the numbers weren’t in until last week, trustees and administrators at West Hills Community College District had anticipated state budget cuts and are well positioned to handle them without disruption to students, according to Chancellor Frank Gornick.
The district had already announced a hiring freeze earlier in the month and reserve funds for the current year were budgeted above the five percent mandated by the State Community College Chancellor’s Office.
Gornick said that a freeze on non-essential purchases had already been established to take place on Feb. 1st.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal for the state called for a $40 million mid-year cut for the state’s 109 community colleges this year and more than $483 million for the next school year. He also proposed eliminating a cost of living adjustment (COLA) that had been expected to be 4.93 percent.
In addition, Schwarzenegger requested that the legislature approve an across the board 10 percent cut in state-funded categorical programs such as the disabled students, extended opportunities and career technical education programs.
The approved budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year at West Hills is $36 million in the general fund and $9 million in restricted (grant-funded) programs. More than $1.8 million is budgeted as a reserve.
Gornick said that the goal of establishing a hiring freeze now is to help avoid possible layoffs in the future.
“Five years ago we went through a similar crisis and were forced to layoff six faculty members and 14 non-faculty,” Gornick said. “We’re working hard to avoid that this time around and continue to provide service to our students.
“We’ve also worked hard to establish reserves for building projects that require local matches to receive already-approved state funds,” he said.
“We have set aside sufficient funds to provide the match for an agriculture science facility at West Hills College Coalinga and part of the funds for a wellness center in Coalinga and a multi-use sports complex in Lemoore. These are projects that will span multiple fiscal years,” he added.
“We serve one of the poorest regions in the country,” Gornick noted, “and our trustees, faculty and staff understand that education is the best possible way to improve our economic plight. We are all committed to serving students and our communities—despite the economic downturn in the state.”
Spring semester classes started Monday in the district and while final enrollment numbers aren’t final yet, more than 5,000 students had signed up for classes by Friday. Students have until the end of the first week of classes to enroll without special permission.
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West Hills Community College District serves the west side of the San Joaquin Valley and is part of the California Community College System. Its two colleges, West Hills College Coalinga, which includes North District Center, Firebaugh, and West Hills College Lemoore, serve more than 6,000 students on campus and online each semester.