Increase in JCC funding backed

Jefferson County legislators appear willing to give their college an extra 3 percent for the 2009-10 academic year, although some wondered aloud Tuesday if that was fair.

The seven-member Finance and Rules Committee unanimously recommended Tuesday that the county contribute $4,135,548 to Jefferson Community College, an increase of $120,453 from this academic year.

Legislator Robert A. Boice, who attended Tuesday's session although he is not a committee member, said he supported the college's request. But he questioned a perceived inequality between funding the college and the county's own departments. Administrators asked department heads not to request additional funds in the 2010 budget.

"Why are we not at least as liberal with our own departments as we are with JCC?" Mr. Boice asked. "It's unbelievable."

The Rutland Republican also took issue at the county's intention not to give extra funds to authorized agencies, the group of nonprofits that receive county cash annually.

Legislator Scott A. Gray, the committee's chairman, agreed with Mr. Boice's assessment. College leaders, he noted, projected they will need an additional $361,605 for the 2010-11 budget, or 8.74 percent more than what the college may receive for its upcoming budget.

"That's a heavy lift," said Mr. Gray, R-Watertown. "If we had authorized agencies or department heads coming in for an 8 percent increase, we'd be turning them down all day long. There has to be some parity between the college and the other agencies and departments."

The college projected it would need $5,591,793 from the county in the 2014-15 academic year, or 39 percent more than it received in the 2008-09 budget.

But College President Carole A. McCoy cautioned Tuesday against taking considerable stock in the college's projections. She said the requests are built on several assumptions, including no increase in the number of students enrolled and no use of fund balance.

Mrs. McCoy pointed out that both fall and summer enrollment is increasing, one reason why the college could keep its request to the county at a 3 percent increase this year. The college also removed three positions, she said, although it kept two that were previously funded by a federal grant. The college's departments cut contractual expenses, she said, and administrators built in hiring lags that will save the college an estimated $325,000 next academic year.

Overall, the budget is proposed to increase 3.3 percent, from $20,827,826 to $21,523,557. Tuition is expected to climb 3.9 percent, or about $120 per year for a full-time student and $6 per credit hour for part-time scholars.

The full Legislature will vote on the college's request after a 7 p.m. public hearing Tuesday at the former county courthouse, 195 Arsenal St. If approved by lawmakers, the college's Board of Trustees will vote on whether or not to approve the budget at a 4 p.m. meeting the following day.