Document text
Pace of growth challenges RCC Review of $38.6 million budget begins By SUSAN JAY GRANTS PASS -- Rogue Community College wrestles with keeping pace and paying for growth in its proposed budget. The college's 14-member budget committee began its review of the tentative $38.6 million budget this week, with final adoption slated for sometime in June. That amount includes $24.3 million in general fund dollars, which includes state funding, property taxes and tuition. The difference between the two comes from other accounts, including an auxiliary, unemployment and grant fund. The college's challenge has been and continues to be balancing growth and costs, since voters approved annexing Jackson County into RCC's taxing district in 1996. RCC first opened its main Medford doors at the renovated Riverside Center in fall 1997. Student enrollment from Jackson County jumped 50 percent between fall 1997 and fall 1998. The college has seen steadily rising enrollment, and now has an estimated 4,300 students. The proposed budget is $3 million more than in fiscal year 1998-99, and is based on an 8.85 percent jump in student enrollment. "We felt it's realistic," said RCC president Harvey Bennett of the projected figure. In fact, "we're slowing it down," he said. "We're not able to reach the need that's out there, even at that rate of increase." Along with the projected growth comes a $5-per-credit tuition increase, which the board approved this winter. The proposed budget calls for hiring more instructors, counselors, and other staff, and college officials will be looking for more buildings to lease to make room for the increase in students. The college has already invested $1.4 million in leasehold improvements, mostly in downtown Medford and a few other sites in Jackson County. RCC occupies six sites in Jackson County. In addition, RCC has spent more than $1 million for equipment. "We're operating more like a business," Bennett said, because RCC has to find the best location for sites and constantly budget for the cost. That's quite different than universities and public schools, where voters have approved the funding of buildings. Leasing facilities comes from the budget and isn't an added cost to the community, he said. "I think we are in a tough corner, but the focus is still right. It's on service," Bennett said. The majority of RCC's funding comes from tuition, state money and property taxes. Community colleges, including RCC, are anxiously awaiting the state revenue forecast, which could affect what they receive in state support. The colleges are asking for their current level of funding plus increases for inflation and growth. College administrators and legislators are also working to change the community college funding formula. Community college funding is based on a three-year rolling average enrollment, which means the huge enrollment growth RCC experienced when Jackson County was annexed into the college's district is not yet reflected in its budget. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA