Dateline: August 9, 2007

State leaders lining up behind 2-year colleges

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Powerful allies are lining up behind Texas community colleges to find a way to restore funding Gov. Rick Perry vetoed for the schools, and Clarendon College officials are hoping that help comes sooner rather than later.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst late last month was the first high-ranking official to call for efforts to restore the $154 million that Perry cut from the state budget. That money was apportioned to cover health insurance costs for most community college employees, and, on the local level, has left Clarendon College facing a shortfall of more than $460,000.

Last Thursday, House Speaker Tom Craddick (R-Midland) joined the list of state leaders who have broken with the governor on this issue. Craddick sent a letter to a group of House Democrats, who were upset by the cut, and said, “I can assure you that we will be ready to announce a solution to this issue in the very near future.”

On the Democratic side, it was announced this week that State Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo), who chairs the Senate Higher Education Subcommittie and is vice chair of the Senate Finance Committee, plans to hold a public hearing on the funding question next Tuesday.

Dewhurst, Craddick, and Zaffirini have all supported the idea of calling a meeting of the Legislative Budget Board, which can spend state funds while the Legislature is not in session, although the board’s action must be approved by the governor.

“It seems we have reason to be optimistic,” CC Interim President W.R. Auvenshine said. “It appears to me that the Republican Party has begun to sense the popularity of community colleges in Texas. Editorials from every part of the state have supported community colleges.”

Auvenshine said Republican leaders are realizing that they face a potential loss in votes due to the popularity of community colleges.

Despite what seems to be good news, Auvenshine said Clarendon College still has two concerns – how and when the funds will be restored.

“Dewhurst has suggested the state should investigate the issue of proportionality in restoring the $154 million,” Auvenshine said. “This could be detrimental to small colleges like Clarendon. The Texas Association of Community Colleges is adamant that the money be restored as it was taken out.”

Timing is also an issue facing CC. The governor’s veto affected funding in the college’s 2008-2009 fiscal year and did not affect state appropriations for the upcoming 2007-2008 fiscal year. While larger community colleges are taking a “wait and see” approach, Clarendon and other small colleges are taking steps now to deal with the loss of funds, effectively spreading the loss over two budget years.

During a budget workshop last week, Auvenshine told CC Regents that he has seen budgets on the bone before, but this year’s proposed CC budget “is in the marrow.”

“We’ve got deferred maintenance, purchases that we’re not making, and vacant staff positions,” he said.

Auvenshine said money is being held in reserve from this year’s appropriation in case it’s needed next year. If state leaders restore the college’s lost funding, that reserve money can be reallocated to expenses needed right now.