Mt. Vernon Register-News

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March 3, 2010

State stops base funding of colleges

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — Rend Lake College is now expecting a $4 million shortfall in its budget after receiving word the state will not be making any more base operating payments to the community college.

“We have received the third quarter base operating payment, at a little over $831,000,” said RLC Vice President of Finance Larry West. “Given the information we are receiving from the state, there will be no more money come in this fiscal year. That would put us down $4 million.”

Rend Lake College isn’t the only Southern Illinois community college that is being affected by the state budget and lack of payments. Shawnee Community College in Ullin is facing a $2 million shortfall in its $14 million budget and recently increased tuition to $10 a credit hour beginning in the summer semester. According to SCC President Larry Peterson, the college has also implemented non-personnel cutbacks, but will have to look at reducing personnel next year.

John A. Logan Community College in Carterville is facing a $7 million shortfall, and the board has begun discussing cuts to faculty, staff, services and programs. The college board has decided against layoffs at this time, but John A. Logan College President Robert Mees has reported the college is also discussing a fee and tuition increase, a four-day class schedule and budget cuts for all departments.

“Our budget is $19 million and $9 million comes from the state,” West explained. “The state payments affects every college that relies heavily on state funding, which includes all the colleges in Southern Illinois, where state funding can be as much as 38 to 49 percent of the budget. That’s a big hit. Some schools in the Chicago area only get 3 percent of their budget in state funding, so, the issue becomes more relevant the more you are dependent upon it.”

The college fiscal year will end June 30.

“We are working on plans to meet the expected shortfall,” West said. The RLC Board meets in regular session next week.

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