State budget proposal targets colleges

Clarendon College and other Texas community colleges were shocked last Wednesday when a budget proposal from the Texas House of Representatives cut $767 million from their funding and eliminated state support entirely for four colleges, including Frank Phillips at Borger.

But new CC President Phil Shirley urged people not to panic in the light of the news and said a lot will change before the final budget is approved.

“There is a lot of saber rattling going on right now [in Austin],” Shirley told the CC Board of Regents at its regular meeting Thursday. “There will be terrible recommendations, but I don’t think the state will close anyone.”

By Monday, the Texas Senate had proposed a budget which still cuts community colleges’ funding but restores state support of Frank Phillips as well as Odessa, Ranger, and Brazosport.

“I hear that there are severe cuts [in the Senate proposal], but they are across the board,” Shirley told the Enterprise Tuesday.

Shirley said lawmakers need to stop “scare tactics” and stop talking about cutting health insurance funds for community colleges. He also said the state needs to let local colleges decide where to cut their budgets, and he said the Legislature needs to consider more than just cutting funds.

“It’s time to tap that Rainy Day Fund and look at other avenues to raise money,” Shirley said.

In other college business last week, CC Regents approved naming two new workforce education buildings at the Pampa Center in honor of former president Bill Auvenshine and Pampa Center Foundation member Don Lane. A dedication for those buildings will be held on March 24.

The board approved the purchase of EMT and nursing training equipment for the Pampa Center totaling almost $130,000 and paid for by the Pampa Economic Development Corporation.

Shirley also reported to the board that Tex Selvidge is working part time as a recruiter for the college and said Scarlet Estlack had been named Interim Dean of Instruction.

Dean of Students Tex Buckhaults gave preliminary enrollment figures for the spring, which showed a third straight year of record growth. Final numbers will be released after the 12th class day.