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Highlands Today

SFCC To Get $1 Million Less From State

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By MANDY SHEETS | Highlands Today

Published: May 5, 2008

AVON PARK — South Florida Community College is preparing its budget with about $1 million less this year than last year.

"The budget news is not good; we have less than we hoped," said SFCC President Norm Stephens. "The good news is we have known this was coming and have been preparing to manage it."

The state legislature will pass the budget today, but Stephens said he already has a good idea what to expect –– $1 million less for the general fund and the loss of matching revenue for money raised for scholarships and building improvements.

If the proposed budget passes, tuition also will increase 6 percent for the fall semester.

"We don't like to see tuition increases because we are trying to reduce barriers for our students, but a tuition increase is one way to make up for less state revenue," Stephens said.

The college's 2007-08 operating budget is nearly $21.9 million in addition to the capital outlay budget with estimated expenditures of $9.59 million.

Stephens said the $1 million loss will mean significant reductions in equipment, supplies, services and personnel. Although no employees will be laid off, some retiring faculty members are not being replaced.

"At the same time we are looking at ways to cut back, we are serving about 15 to 20 percent more students," Stephens said.

The proposed budget also will not provide state matching funds for money collected for student scholarships or facility improvements.

Money raised by the SFCC Foundation for student scholarships is typically matched dollar-for-dollar by the state but not this year.

"In the past when the state has had difficult financial times, they have delayed matching those funds for a year or two," Stephens said.

Stephens said, in the interim, less scholarship funding will be available.

"Our neediest students will still be eligible for financial aid," Stephens said. "This will likely have more of an impact on our more economically advantaged students."

Renovations to the SFCC Auditorium are scheduled to begin in April 2009, and fundraising from the community is already underway. Stephens said that money will no longer be matched by the state right away.

"Some of the money raised this year won't be matched, but we will ask them to match this year's funds next year," Stephens said.

The legislature did approve $1 million through Public Education Capital Outlay funds to start the auditorium renovation process.

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