Fact: The reserves of other similar colleges are NOT that different from our own. For example, Marin is at 5 percent. Merced is at 6 percent. San Luis Obispo is at 6 percent. College of the Sequoias is at 3.5 percent. Shasta is at 5 percent. Solano is at 6.6 percent. Victor Valley is at 5 percent. And Yuba College is at 5.58 percent, really at 7.58 percent with capital enhancements of the current and last academic years.
Fact: Most of these colleges have not even begun to consider reductions or eliminations for next year. For instance, Marin College, with fewer full-time equivalent students, a smaller budget and less in reserves is currently proposing NO CUTS in unrestricted funds at this time.
Fact: Those colleges that have begun to consider reductions for next year are NOT entertaining the massive cuts to unrestricted funds that Yuba College is proposing. For instance, Merced is proposing $1.2 million in cuts to unrestricted funds, less than half of what Yuba College is proposing. And Merced, with only 6 percent in reserves, has committed itself to making the smallest cuts in instruction.
Fact: Yuba College has consistently decreased the number of classes offered to students. During Spring 2001, Yuba College offered 1,077 sections of classes on the Marysville campus. During Spring 2002, Yuba College offered 948 sections of classes on the Marysville campus, a 12 percent reduction. During Spring 2003, Yuba College is offering 827 sections of classes on the Marysville campus, an additional 12.7 reduction. All together, Yuba College has offered at the Marysville campus 250 fewer sections– almost a 25 percent decrease– over the last two years.
Since he has been here, Mr. Dencavage’s estimates have been consistently over-conservative.
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