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T-STORM Temp: 80 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Sunday, August 3, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend April 21, 2003 Community colleges would gladly take another $10 million from the state By DON JEPSEN for the Mail Tribune SALEM — When the co-chairmen of the Ways and Means committee released their budget last week, it marked a turning point for Oregon’s 17 community colleges. Instead of making more reductions, lawmakers decided to add $10 million to the appropriation for community colleges over what Gov. Ted Kulongoski had recommended. Rick Levine, president of Rogue Community College, couldn’t be happier. Along with the presidents of Portland and Lane community colleges, Levine had laid out a dire scenario for the two-year institutions under the funding recommended by the governor: $407 million, down nearly $50 million from the current biennium. Advertisement Their dreary litany included program cuts, salary freezes, layoffs, tuition hikes — the list was long. Just after testifying, the presidents learned that Ways and Means wanted to add more money. And the committee members appeared ready to fight for the increase, even though the governor on Friday recommended that community colleges be cut by $10 million, to $397 million. "It isn’t going to solve all their problems," Rep. Susan Morgan, R-Myrtle Point, said of the legislative bump. "But we were very unhappy with the governor’s recommendation." Morgan is chairwoman of the education subcommittee. "We’ll try to work through our differences with the governor," said Sen. Steve Harper, R-Klamath Falls, vice chairman of Ways and Means. "But communities are now a top legislative priority." As budgets go, $10 million is pretty thin gruel to spread among 17 community colleges. Portland Community College will get the lion’s share, 25 percent. "I’m not complaining," a grateful Levine said. "This really helps us." He said RCC would receive an additional $400,000 over the next two years if the $10 million stays. The co-chairs’ budget also includes another $6 million in scholarship aid for low-income students in danger of being priced out of two- and four-year institutions because of escalating tuition. The education subcommittee will begin shaping the budget today. Levine said, however, that he has no option but to prepare his institution’s budget based on what the governor recommends. However, the strong support from legislators is giving community colleges new hope. House Ways and Means co-chairman Randy Miller, R-West Linn, said he would like to provide even more money. The governor’s priority is to increase funding for K-12, a spokeswoman said during a media briefing on his revised budget. The governor did not cut his original $5.05 million request for schools. The co-chairs’ budget recommends spending $4.83 billion, with another $162 million in savings for schools if Public Employees Retirement System reforms pass. Like other institutions, RCC is struggling to keep more expensive job training programs in place. "If will be very difficult to attract companies to the state if we can’t provide a skilled workforce," Levine said. Without the money, the colleges will have no option but to offer more academic preparation and personal enrichment programs because they are much cheaper, Portland Community College president Jesus "Jess" Carreon testified. "You want us to be a full service institution, but how can we afford it?" Carreon asked. Don Jepsen is a longtime journalist and free-lance writer living in Salem. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times