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Colleges prepare for possible budget cuts

BY TARA MCLAUGHLIN, Californian staff writer
e-mail: tmclaughlin@bakersfield.com | Thursday, Nov 29 2007 9:05 PM

Last Updated: Thursday, Nov 29 2007 9:12 PM

Presidents of the three Kern Community College District schools will need to identify about 5 percent in their budgets this year to save for anticipated state budget cuts next year, officials said.

"This is something we're doing proactively," said Tom Burke, the district's chief financial officer. "But it's clear state agencies are being required to start planning as well. That kind of a budget (cut), it will get to us."

The district itself also is anticipating tapping about half of its 10 percent general fund reserves, Burke said.

By slowing spending -- limiting big purchases or filling vacancies -- the district hopes to create a savings allowing it to weather turbulent financial times better than it did in the previous round of cuts, Chancellor Sandra Serrano said at Thursday's finance meeting.

There were midyear budget reductions in the 2002-03 school year, with more the following year, Burke said.

On top of that, when those cuts came down, the district was contractually obligated to make pay increases, he said. The district now, however, is still in negotiations.

Bakersfield College, for which Serrano was president at the time, was forced to lay off staff, she said.

"(We are) truly hoping we don't have to go there (this time)," Serrano said.

BC is looking carefully at its $78.3 million budget to come up with the targeted savings, said President Bill Andrews.

"This is not the time to ask for the replacement of a desk," he said.

Any cuts would not hinder the school's plans for expansion, though, because it's still about five years out, he said.

The other KCCD schools are Cerro Coso Community College and Porterville College.

As for the West Kern Community College District and its only school, Taft College, general fund reserves of about 20 percent mean the school isn't considering cuts just yet, said William Duncan, interim superintendent and president.

Last time around, Taft was able to balance its budget with cuts in such things as supplies and travel and no layoffs, he said.