FSCC hopes to absorb recent cuts

Fort Scott Community College, like many other higher education institutions across the state, is facing a budget crunch this year.

But FSCC President Clayton Tatro said he is confident that the college will be able to absorb recent cuts, survive the current statewide higher education financial crisis and hopefully rebound within a couple of years.

"If we can get through the lean, mean years, there's no reason we can't keep it up," Tatro told the FSCC Board of Trustees during their June 29 meeting.

On top of 9.8 percent cuts to higher education that are planned for the 2009-10 school year, on July 2, Gov. Mark Parkinson approved a $160 million plan to cut public schools and higher education budgets by an additional 2 percent in an attempt to balance the state budget.

Higher education will take a $15.3 million hit as a result of the cuts. In total, the state's higher education budget has been cut 12 percent, or $100 million this year, according to the Kansas Board of Regents.

The good news for FSCC is that a recent enrollment increase at the college will help offset some of its losses, Tatro said.

"We won't see cuts as big as at some schools because our enrollment went up," he said. "It's a good year to have an enrollment increase."

Tatro said FSCC lost about $145,000 in state aid during the 2008-09 school year, and could potentially lose an estimated $270,000-$280,000 during the 2009-10 school year after recent cuts were announced. Another setback is increasing health insurance costs for FSCC employees -- a $45,000 additional expense to the college this year, Tatro said.

Besides enrollment increases last year and anticipated enrollment increases this year, FSCC should also get other assistance the next couple of years as it deals with budget issues. FSCC is expected to receive about $40,000 in federal stimulus dollars for fiscal year 2009, and about $170,000 for fiscal year 2010; money that will be used for deferred maintenance projects at the college, Tatro said.

FSCC should also benefit from a recent $4 increase in tuition fees for the 2009-10 school year, which will result in an additional $140,000 for the college. FSCC will also save money this year after recently closing down the Topeka location of its commercial truck driving program and discontinuing the dental hygiene program in Pittsburg, Tatro said.

FSCC officials have also made other cost-saving moves recently, including some staffing and personnel changes and some minor reductions in the college's workforce, he added.