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Budget Cuts on the Horizon for Howard College
Budget Cuts on the Horizon for Howard College 6/25/12
CBS 7 News
June 25, 2012
tguinn@cbs7.com
Big Spring, TX - Budget cuts look to be on the horizon for one West Texas college to the tune of nearly $1 million. Inside the Tumbleweed Room this afternoon, college trustees met preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.
"We've had signals coming from Austin that we do have short falls on state revenue and we need to plan accordingly," Dr. Cheryl Sparks, Howard College President said.
This comes after the state changed the way they give money to community colleges. Instead of planning for funds every two years, it is now done a year-to-year basis. And with lower enrollment at the college, they will be seeing less money from the state.
"This year we saw a drop in our contact hours overall," Dr. Sparks said.
Because the college will have to do with less money this year, they've moved people around; several employees taking on more responsibility.
"I have taken on a new role," Terry Hanson, Executive Dean of Big Spring Campuses said. "It's not untypical for a community college employee to be asked to do jobs other than what they're used to doing."
Dr. Sparks says that you have to be willing to do what is necessary so that their students educations do not suffer.
"We've been doing everything we can to be resourceful even with the loss of state revenue," Dr. Sparks said. "Tough times don't last, tough colleges do. I think we are a tough college."
Dr. Sparks says that they should know within the next few days how much money will be cut.
Howard College has the option of possibly being able to receive a stop loss that would generate funds to make up some of their loss.