FSCC trustees get first look at budget for 2007-08 year
On Monday, the Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees looked over the college's nearly $12 million budget recently completed for the 2007-08 school year.
During their regular meeting, trustees reviewed the budget and also received a rundown of the college's revenues and expenses from FSCC Dean of Finance and Operations Darcy Baldonado.
Trustees also scheduled 5:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, for a hearing to approve the finalized budget, a meeting that will take place in the FSCC Heritage Room. The budget must be published within 10 days of the scheduled hearing, according to state law.
The proposed 2007-08 budget contains about $6.5 million in budgeted expenses, revenue and transfers and $2.1 million in money generated from Bourbon County taxpayers. The local mill levy, currently 22.35, did not increase from last year, Baldonado said. The 2007-08 budget also includes more than $690,000 to pay for faculty salaries this year after the board approved a 2.5 percent pay hikes for more than 50 full-time and non-certified FSCC instructors and staff earlier this year.
Much of the college's revenue comes from state and federal aid, such as grant money.
Documents prepared by Baldonado also show about $3.2 million in spending for vocational education, about $14,500 in spending on adult education, $1.1 million in spending for the FSCC truck driving program, and $976,000 in expenses on auxiliary enterprises at FSCC, which includes the college bookstore, the student center, the dormitories, and the food service program.
FSCC currently has a little more than $1 million in the bank, according to FSCC documents.
Trustees also conducted the following business on Monday:
* Heard a report from FSCC Campus Services Director Steve Stanton on summer maintenance projects that are currently underway or complete on the college campus and other FSCC-owned buildings.
* Elected new officers for the 2007-08 school year. Trustees elected Myrtle Anne Colum as board chairwoman, Robert Nelson as vice-chairman, Baldonado as clerk and information officer, Mindy Russell as treasurer, Nelson as a Kansas Association of Community College Trustees and Council of Presidents representative, Jim Sather as a Greenbush representative, and FSCC Human Resources Director Cheryl Combs as a Kansas Public Employees Retirement System representative.
* Designated Citizens Bank, NA for the deposit of college funds, Zackery Reynolds as the attorney representing FSCC in legal matters, The Fort Scott Tribune as the college's official newspaper for publications, and set board meeting dates for the third Monday of each month. Trustees also set the dates for board meetings during the 2007-08 school year.
* Approved the June treasurer's report, which showed a $1.6 million starting cash balance, $2 million in expenses, $2.3 million in revenue, and a $1.9 million ending cash balance. Trustees also approved more than $252,000 in purchase orders made by FSCC since the first of July.
* Approved a retirement request from FSCC Financial Aid Director Bonnie Quick, a 19-year college employee; and letters of resignation from FSCC Associate Dean of Miami County Campus Tylerr Ropp, Kansas City Truck Driving Program Director Milburn Stooksbury, and maintenance employee Richard Beal. Trustees also hired Fawn Lallemand as a cosmetology instructor, Kirk Sharp as an admissions representative, Robert Spies as the new head cross country and track coach, and approved the transfer of Lillie Grubb to the position of director of financial aid.
* Adopted a policy that will allow the early payment of certain bills that will enhance the operations of the college or financially benefit the college. This policy will allow college officials to avoid late fees or interest charges that often come with late payment of bills, an FSCC statement said.
* Approved the renewal of a $1,740 lease agreement for office space within Midtown Community Resource, Inc., a Wichita office that, for several years, has provided space for the federally funded Migrant Education Program (MEP) at FSCC. Several rental sites throughout Kansas are used to provide MEP services, and the funds for the rental agreements are provided through a federal grant, and not FSCC funds, college officials said.
* Approved board participation in the Kansas Association of School Boards Workers Compensation Fund, Inc., a consortium of educational institutions that work together to reduce the individual institution risk associated with workers compensation issues. FSCC has belonged to the organization for several years. The annual cost to participate in the fund is $51,550, a reduction from last year's annual premium; $83,674.
* Accepted a low bid of $75,846 from Life Insurance Company of North America, which includes a $250 deductible, for athletic insurance at FSCC during the 2007-08 school year. Trustees also accepted a bid from Mutual of Omaha for catastrophic insurance this year at a cost of $19,279, a $2,728 increase from last year. Both companies are currently the carriers of the college's athletic insurance policies.
The board also heard other various reports from college administrators, and later adjourned with no further action.