SCOTTS VALLEY — The Cabrillo College Governing Board unanimously approved a 2010-2011 preliminary budget Monday, with officials digging into reserves and use one-time funds to bridge a $2.3 million gap.
"I underscore preliminary," said Chair Gary Reece during the meeting at the college's Scotts Valley campus. "I have a feeling this is going to change a lot before we get to the final." While the college awaits a final state budget, it will operate on about $71 million in general funds and will not raise tuition above $26 per unit for residents. The state Legislative Analyst's Office has suggested that tuition for community colleges be raised to $40 per unit.
Yet, despite increasing enrollment from out-of-state and international students, Vice President of Administrative Services Victoria Lewis said the legislative formula that decides tuition is forcing the college to lower its cost to out-of-state students, from $199 per unit to $183.
"We're serving more students than we're being funded for," she said.
In 2010-2011, there will be no salary increases at Cabrillo and no winter session, which is a one-month session in January that serves a smaller number of students than the fall, spring and summer sessions.
Because the college has approved layoffs and cuts to classes, Cabrillo Classified Employees Union president Stephanie Stainback asked the board to consider supporting a parcel tax as a way to raise revenue. But
with deadlines looming to poll the public and a tax proposal on the November ballot, the board decided to table it.
"It seems unlikely we would have time to do a thoughtful poll and get results on time to be on the ballot," said Trustee Claudine Wildman. "It's fairly difficult to go out to the public at this time and ask them to contribute." The board also got an update Monday on the college's Master Plan, which drew concern over a drop-off in the number of students transferring to four-year colleges. In 2004-2005, 701 Cabrillo students transferred to a four-year college,