Posted 11:33 pm Thursday, August 23, 2012
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Budget increase up for approval; cheerleading back
A slightly higher budget proposal and tax rate is up for approval at Tyler Junior College today.
The $75.4 million proposal is more than $900,000 higher than last year's. And the proposed tax rate of 19.99 cents per $100 valuation reflects a 1.775-cent increase over last year's.
The higher proposed rate reflects the voter-approved $25 million bond package that will fund construction of a nursing and health sciences building on the college's main campus.
TJC's Chief Financial Officer Sarah Van Cleef called the budget proposal conservative with President Dr. Mike Metke saying it was double-scrubbed.
In terms of expenditures, areas of increase include the Lindale Center, advising, financial aid, student activities and cheerleading.
The college expanded its Lindale location by leasing more suite space and adding night staff. The campus, at the Identity Center on South Main Street, opened in 2009 and tripled enrollment to 285 students by spring 2011.
In advising, the college is slowly raising pay up to, in some cases, $28,000 for positions that saw high turnover. Ms. Van Cleef said TJC was among the lowest in the state for adviser pay.
The college increased the financial aid budget in hopes of lowering the default rate for students paying back loans.
The rate was about 13 percent, an increase from the previous year, Ms. Van Cleef said.
Metke said too high a rate could jeopardize federal financial aid, so the additional funding will increase the services provided by a company that works with students to ensure payment.
The return of cheerleading brought about a budget increase. Last year, TJC cut the program after the departure of the coach.
Ms. Van Cleef said the college regrouped and brought it back this year. Funding includes the coach's salary, institutional scholarships for cheerleaders and some supplies, she said.
The $75.4 million proposal is more than $900,000 higher than last year's. And the proposed tax rate of 19.99 cents per $100 valuation reflects a 1.775-cent increase over last year's.
The higher proposed rate reflects the voter-approved $25 million bond package that will fund construction of a nursing and health sciences building on the college's main campus.
TJC's Chief Financial Officer Sarah Van Cleef called the budget proposal conservative with President Dr. Mike Metke saying it was double-scrubbed.
In terms of expenditures, areas of increase include the Lindale Center, advising, financial aid, student activities and cheerleading.
The college expanded its Lindale location by leasing more suite space and adding night staff. The campus, at the Identity Center on South Main Street, opened in 2009 and tripled enrollment to 285 students by spring 2011.
In advising, the college is slowly raising pay up to, in some cases, $28,000 for positions that saw high turnover. Ms. Van Cleef said TJC was among the lowest in the state for adviser pay.
The college increased the financial aid budget in hopes of lowering the default rate for students paying back loans.
The rate was about 13 percent, an increase from the previous year, Ms. Van Cleef said.
Metke said too high a rate could jeopardize federal financial aid, so the additional funding will increase the services provided by a company that works with students to ensure payment.
The return of cheerleading brought about a budget increase. Last year, TJC cut the program after the departure of the coach.
Ms. Van Cleef said the college regrouped and brought it back this year. Funding includes the coach's salary, institutional scholarships for cheerleaders and some supplies, she said.
In terms of significant cuts, the college decreased funding for all institutional performance scholarships by 6 percent.
It cut back on funding for programs at the Center for Earth and Space Science Education. Ms. Van Cleef said the center will rely more on private funding or other resources to pay for movies and exhibits.
The college is deferring computer upgrades when possible and denied some office requests for additional personnel.
All positions are evaluated when someone retires or leaves to determine if they need to be filled.
This is the third consecutive fiscal year that employees will not receive raises, something that Metke said is difficult to accept especially when considering what other schools are doing.
The college avoided raising tuition and fees this year after doing so last year, meaning that revenue stream remains unchanged. Enrollment is expected to remain flat at more than 11,000 students this year.
Continuing Education program revenues will be down slightly from last year because of some programs that did not perform as well as expected.
State funding is down about $900,000 this year to $16.5 million.
The board is scheduled to vote on the budget and tax rate at an 11 a.m. meeting today in the Board Room of the White Administrative Services Center on the TJC main campus, 1400 E. Fifth St. A 10 a.m. board workshop will be in the Board Conference Room.
It cut back on funding for programs at the Center for Earth and Space Science Education. Ms. Van Cleef said the center will rely more on private funding or other resources to pay for movies and exhibits.
The college is deferring computer upgrades when possible and denied some office requests for additional personnel.
All positions are evaluated when someone retires or leaves to determine if they need to be filled.
This is the third consecutive fiscal year that employees will not receive raises, something that Metke said is difficult to accept especially when considering what other schools are doing.
The college avoided raising tuition and fees this year after doing so last year, meaning that revenue stream remains unchanged. Enrollment is expected to remain flat at more than 11,000 students this year.
Continuing Education program revenues will be down slightly from last year because of some programs that did not perform as well as expected.
State funding is down about $900,000 this year to $16.5 million.
The board is scheduled to vote on the budget and tax rate at an 11 a.m. meeting today in the Board Room of the White Administrative Services Center on the TJC main campus, 1400 E. Fifth St. A 10 a.m. board workshop will be in the Board Conference Room.
