College proposes $9 million in cuts

Yuba College is planning to cut $9 million from its $45 million budget to meet estimated reductions proposed by Governor Gray Davis. Of the $9 million, $2.9 million is slated to be cut in unrestricted funds, money that the college controls, according to a handout distributed by Michael Dencavage, Vice President of Business Services, at a February 11 District Council meeting.

However, in a document distributed December 16, 2002, Kevin M. Ramirez and William G. McGinnis of the Community College League of California estimate that Yuba College should cut only just over $1.4 million in unrestricted funds, less than half of Dencavage’s proposal.

Yuba College’s proposed cut of $2.9 million in unrestricted funds is higher than cuts proposed by similar colleges. For example, Antelope Valley Community College, which has a similar student population size as that of Yuba College, is estimating a $2.2 million cut. Solano Community College, also similar in student population and with a similar budget of $45.1 million, is proposing a $1.3 million cut in unrestricted funds, less than half of what Yuba College is planning to cut.

The impending Yuba College budget cuts were front-page news in the February 11, 2003 issue of the Appeal-Democrat, where Superintendent Nikki Harrington is attributed as stating that although the exact impact to district employees has yet to be determined, the district is in the process of “prioritizing” its programs to determine where cuts will be made.

At the District Council meeting of February 11, 2003, Dencavage distributed a list of proposed reductions and program eliminations. Student support services and instructional programs are in line to suffer the greatest financial impact.

STUDENT SUPPORT

Classified (3 Full Time Equivalent Faculty Marysville, Colusa, and YCYC)
Admissions and Records (Supplies and Operations)
Counseling (1 FTEF)
Counseling (Part-Time Faculty)
Counseling (Supplies and Operating Expenses)
Career Guidance (Supplies and Operations)
Health Services (1 FTEF)
Student Services (Supplies and Operating Expenses)
Senior Financial Aid Technician
Campus Life
Maintenance Control (Vacant)
Custodian (Vacant)
Lead Grounds (Vacant)
Public Information (Supplies and Operating)
Public Information / Research / Grants (3 FTEF)
Cashier (Part-Time Faculty)
HR (1 FTEF)
Campus Police (Increase parking fees to offset expense)
Purchasing Technician (Vacant)
Print / Mail Assistant (Vacant)
Scheduled Maintenance Match

INSTRUCTION

Agriculture (1 FTEF)
Colusa (1 FTEF)
Drafting (1 FTEF)
Electronics (1 FTEF & Supplies)
Engineering (1 FTEF & Supplies)
Food Services (Lake Part-Time Faculty & Supplies)
Instructional Technology (4 FTEF & Supplies)
Metal / Welding (4.3 FTEF & Supplies)
YCYC (Part-Time Faculty)
Fall ’03 / Spring ’04 FTEF Reduction (Part-Time)
Classified Instruction (3 FTEF)
Faculty Retirements (5 FTEF)

ADMINISTRATION

Associate Dean Woodland
Dean Vocational Education
VP Student Services (Student Help)
VP Student Services (Advertising and Brochures)
Assistant Superintendent District Development (Vacant)
Program Analyst (Vacant)

Additionally, the following Categorical (Restricted General Funds) reductions to Yuba College Student Services have been estimated. Categorical reductions take place at the state level, beyond the control of local college administrators:

Partnership For Excellence 45.18 percent
Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education 44.95 percent
Disabled Student Program and Services 44.95 percent
Extended Opportunity Programs and Services 44.95 percent
Matriculation 40.52 percent
CalWORKS 10.83 percent
Basic Financial Aid Program .4 percent
Dorms To Be Determined
Parking To Be Determined
NYSP No Change
Upward Bound No Change
SSS-Trio No Change

Decavage’s document included an estimated $5.19 million in categorical cuts and $935,604 in Partnership For Excellence funds. The state, not the college, has control over categorical and PFE funding. These figures are estimates based on decisions Californian legislatures have made thus far. All proposed cuts to the Yuba College District buget total just over $9 million.