Regents consider FY ’15 budget

 Clarendon College Regents began work on a $9.1 million projected budget for fiscal year 2015 during a called meeting last Thursday, July 31.

The budget is forecast to be less than the current expenses, and CC President Robert Riza said the administration’s numbers are based on statewide projections of no growth in college enrollments.

“The new norm is zero and down for enrollment,” Dr. Riza said, noting that the plentiful availability of jobs in the economy makes it hard to recruit students for college.

College officials plan to adopt an ad valorem rate in the Clarendon College District, which covers all of Donley County, set at $0.220802 per $100 valuation, which is lower than the current tax rate of $0.222732. However, due to higher property values, the lower rate will actually bring in about $31,000 in increased revenue.

The proposed rate is eight percent higher than the effective rate of $0.204447, the rate which would bring in the exact same revenue as last year.

Regent Tex Selvidge spoke in favor of adopting the proposed rate, noting that it was better to raise taxes a little when times are good than to get behind and have to raise them a lot. Other board members also agreed with Selvidge.

CC won’t be looking at any tuition increases, and Riza said state appropriations will remain unchanged. The college is expecting to receive about $100,000 more from the five-cent tax in Gray County due to higher values there.

The 2015 budget will be condensed compared to the current budget, Riza said, and it will be easier to track expenses and related programs.

Thursday’s workshop did not include any information about the college’s auxiliary budget, which covers expenses for athletics, the bookstore, and cafeteria operations. Regents will hold a public hearing and continue budget talks on August 14 and are set to adopt a tax rate that day as well.

In other college business, Riza gave Regents their first look at the administration’s strategic plan being developed for 2014-2017, labeled “One College…One Vision.”

When finished, the plan will take the college through its upcoming reaccreditation process and also has goals to redesign and increase student services, implement a district-wide master plan, strengthen college-community relations, and identify programs for expansion.

Regents also met in closed session to discuss personnel, but no action was taken following the closed session.