Post by title1parent on Aug 21, 2009 5:13:07 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=315276&src=76
New COD budget calls for 6 percent hike in revenue
By Jake Griffin | Daily Herald 8/21/09
It's going to take $9 million more to run College of DuPage this year than it did the previous year.
Increased salaries and benefits are the cause of the increase, college finance officials said.
The COD board approved this year's operating budget Thursday, calling for a 6 percent hike in revenue, mostly from property taxes and tuition increases. The college will receive $6.7 million more in property taxes and $5.6 million more in tuition and fees than last year.
That's mainly because state funding contributions and interest income from investments decreased. State funds amounting to $13 million account for just 8.5 percent of the college's operating revenue, down 2 percent from the year before.
"When I came onto this board in 1999 (state funding) was 18 percent," said board Chairwoman Kathy Wessel. "So in 10 years -"
COD President Robert Breuder said the state is supposed to be funding community colleges at 33 percent. He wasn't sure the state would even come through with the limited funding the college is due from the state this year since COD didn't get all of the funds owed to it last year.
"I think it's a crapshoot quite frankly," he said. "The memo we received paints a very bleak picture in terms of the state's budget picture and the implications for community colleges."
Expenditures for salaries make up 62.7 percent of this year's operating costs - it's lowest level in at least five years, according to the budget presentation. However, benefit expenses make up 12.4 percent of the college's operating costs, the most it's been during that same time period. Last year, benefits accounted for just 10.4 percent of the expenses.
Some faculty members complained they didn't have access to the budget document ahead of Thursday's meeting and expressed ongoing concerns that their input was not gathered ahead of the presentation.
Breuder said the document was available in his office as it has been for years, but he said in future years he would like it to be available online and in other locations on campus if possible.
Some board members expressed concern that they only received the full budget packet Monday; however, it passed unanimously.
New COD budget calls for 6 percent hike in revenue
By Jake Griffin | Daily Herald 8/21/09
It's going to take $9 million more to run College of DuPage this year than it did the previous year.
Increased salaries and benefits are the cause of the increase, college finance officials said.
The COD board approved this year's operating budget Thursday, calling for a 6 percent hike in revenue, mostly from property taxes and tuition increases. The college will receive $6.7 million more in property taxes and $5.6 million more in tuition and fees than last year.
That's mainly because state funding contributions and interest income from investments decreased. State funds amounting to $13 million account for just 8.5 percent of the college's operating revenue, down 2 percent from the year before.
"When I came onto this board in 1999 (state funding) was 18 percent," said board Chairwoman Kathy Wessel. "So in 10 years -"
COD President Robert Breuder said the state is supposed to be funding community colleges at 33 percent. He wasn't sure the state would even come through with the limited funding the college is due from the state this year since COD didn't get all of the funds owed to it last year.
"I think it's a crapshoot quite frankly," he said. "The memo we received paints a very bleak picture in terms of the state's budget picture and the implications for community colleges."
Expenditures for salaries make up 62.7 percent of this year's operating costs - it's lowest level in at least five years, according to the budget presentation. However, benefit expenses make up 12.4 percent of the college's operating costs, the most it's been during that same time period. Last year, benefits accounted for just 10.4 percent of the expenses.
Some faculty members complained they didn't have access to the budget document ahead of Thursday's meeting and expressed ongoing concerns that their input was not gathered ahead of the presentation.
Breuder said the document was available in his office as it has been for years, but he said in future years he would like it to be available online and in other locations on campus if possible.
Some board members expressed concern that they only received the full budget packet Monday; however, it passed unanimously.