College students might find older equipment, fewer instructors and more limited supplies when school starts this fall.
Some say students could soon lose whole degree programs or classes – while paying higher tuition – if the state doesn’t start kicking in more money.
“We actually would be put in the position to eliminate a program that’s almost full,” said Central Maine Community College President Scott Knapp. “We’d be picking from a program that’s overflowing to a program that’s nearly overflowing.”
Months ago, lawmakers slightly increased funding for public colleges and universities. But last week, in an effort to trim $250 million from the state budget, they cut those increases by about 30 percent.
The University of Maine System, which gets more than $180 million from the state, lost $2 million over the next two years, or $1 million each year. The Maine Community College System, which gets more than $42 million from the state, lost $652,000 over the next two years, or $326,000 each year.
The reductions don’t look large, but officials from both systems say they need every penny, and more, to offset skyrocketing health insurance and other costs. Enrollment and expenses have increased, they said, but funding has not.
University officials will meet within the next month to decide where to cut the first $1 million. Although it won’t be clear until that meeting where the savings might come from, spokesman John Diamond said officials have considered cuts to everything, including programs, classes and staff, in the past.
The Community College System will split its first $326,000 funding cut among its seven campuses. Each college president will decide how to save their share.
Limited layoffs and course cuts are possible, but officials hope to get by without either. Instead, many will trim equipment purchases, postpone repairs and freeze hiring.
Knapp will save his Auburn school $44,000 by cutting supplies and other purchases and reducing staff training and travel. He can get by without touching classes, programs or staff for now, he said. But he’s afraid they’ll have to go on the chopping block after this.
“We’re sort of sitting on the edge,” he said.
Scraping by
After years of struggle with small budgets, large enrollments and high health insurance costs, the University of Maine System asked the state for an 8 percent increase for 2005-06 and a 7 percent increase for 2006-07.
Instead, lawmakers approved a 2.3 percent increase. University officials raised tuition to make the budget work.
Then, last week, the Legislature cut that 2.3 percent to 1.7 percent.
“It could have been much worse,” said Diamond, noting that the reduction is less than 1 percent of the system’s overall budget. “But any loss is going to be painful.”
The Community College System asked for a 6 percent increase each year.
Instead, the Legislature gave it 2.5 percent. College officials also raised tuition to make their budget work.
Then, last week, that 2.5 percent was cut to 1.8 percent.
“This means going back and scraping together money,” said Alice Kirkpatrick, spokeswoman for the Community College System. “The challenge is continuing the momentum we have and providing the kind of access we provide.”
Costs have gone up for both the university and Community College Systems. University health insurance alone will jump $14 million next year. The Community College System’s enrollment has ballooned 58 percent in three years, going from 6,400 students to nearly 10,200, while state aid has increased by about 3 percent.
“The money we get to spend per student keeps going down. We can’t do that for much longer,” said Knapp at Central Maine Community College.
Although the state figures its budget in a two-year cycle, colleges and universities do theirs year by year. School officials are dealing only with the 2005-06 state funding cut now, but worry about 2006-07. And beyond.
Unless they get more money, and fast, officials said, the schools and their students could suffer.
Said Kirkpatrick, “This additional hit is just another hard thing to deal with.”
BREAKOUTs>>>>
Cuts in state education spending
University of Maine System: $2 million over two years
Maine Community College System: $652,000 over two years
Maine Maritime Academy: $154,400 over two years
Community college cuts
Central Maine: $43,900
Eastern Maine: $44,900
Kennebec Valley: $30,500
Northern Maine: $46,000
Southern Maine: $77,900
Washington County: $30,200
York County: $22,800
Systemwide office: $31,000
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