Schools

AACC Board of Trustees Makes Tough Budget Decisions

Given county's cuts in funding, the AACC budget for next year includes furloughs, less support for students and cuts in the critical cybersecurity program.

Given the recent 15 percent cut in county funding for the next budget year, the Anne Arundel Community College Board of Trustees met this week and adopted a budget for the next fiscal year that includes reducing services and furloughs for employees.

The new budget—totaling $102,976,100—takes effect on July 1. The college's FY2011 budget was $103,488,000.

“The message from the County Council was clear that the college should ‘share the pain’ being felt by the county,” said AACC President Martha Smith. 

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“Believe me, this is extremely painful. It pains me that our students, many of whom are economically stressed to the breaking point now, will have to bear additional costs," said Smith. "It pains me that we would reduce any services to the many students and county residents who depend on us. And it pains me that our dedicated staff and faculty, who have continually achieved more with less during double-digit enrollment growth, must experience additional pain.”

The County Council cut the county's share of its funding to the college by $5.3 million for fiscal 2012, a 15 percent reduction from fiscal 2011's $33.8 million to $28.5 million. The college has made up for much of that loss by raising student tuition and fees and also cutting funds to some programs and positions.

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In its meeting on Tuesday, the board made the following reductions in funding:

  • More than half a million dollars cut in the cybersecurity program that, according to Smith, will result in inadequate lab space and less staff.
  • A $255,000 cut in instructional support services staff. According to an AACC press release, the loss of faculty slots will impact instructional areas that have already absorbed major increases in student enrollment, making it difficult to meet enrollment demand.
  • A $220,000 cut in student and administrative support services, impacting information technology, financial aid support staff and the Student Achievement and Success Program, which serves low-income, first-generation and minority students.
  • More than $2.2 million in pay and benefits reductions. According to the AACC release, this action was in response to the County Council’s desire to see pay reductions for the college. The board approved furloughs for FY2012.

The board also considered increasing revenue through administrative, parking, technology, testing, personal enrichment programs and facility use fees, as well as limiting community access to college facilities, such as the swimming pool, tennis courts, athletic fields, gym and meeting rooms. No vote was taken by the board on these proposals at the meeting.

The cuts come at a time when tuition and fees as a percentage of the overall college budget have climbed steadily since 2003, while funding from the county has declined. According to AACC, tuition and fees hit a high of 46 percent of the budget in FY2012, up from 29 percent in 2003, while funding from the county dropped from 33 percent of the budget to 28 percent of the budget in one year.

“Although we have successfully done more with less in the past, these cuts are so deep that we have to reset expectations," incoming Board Chairwoman Victoria Fretwell said. "As an economic driver for this county, this is not a trend we want to see continue. It does not serve students, county residents or our community as a whole.”


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