Bill would preserve CC funding

Dateline: May 7, 2009

Bill would preserve CC funding

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Community colleges across Texas received good news last Friday when the state House of Representatives gave unanimous approval to a bill by Rep. Burt Solomons.

House Bill 2083 seeks to resolve the issue of “proportionality” for community colleges, a technical issue raised by Gov. Rick Perry two years ago when he vetoed state funding for community college health insurance costs. HB 2083 would preserve that funding and link future increases to increases in enrollment.

Clarendon College President Bill Auvenshine said the bill is good for all community colleges because it’s a better guarantee for the future than a competing bill in the state senate, which would not guarantee health insurance funding but would give a special appropriation for rural colleges.

“We would rather have our insurance than have a special appropriation that might not be around in a few years,” Auvenshine said.

HB 2083 passed the House 142-0 and now goes to the Senate for approval, where Auvenshine thinks it has a good chance at passage with the governor’s help.

“Community colleges are thankful for the leadership of Gov. Perry and Rep. Solomons on this critical issue,” said Dr. Millicent Valek, Chair of the Texas Association of Community Colleges and President of Brazosport College.

“We are pleased that this compromise agreement will take effect in both the Appropriations bill (SB 1) and also in HB 2083 so that colleges and future Legislatures will have a statutory reference for addressing the issue of community college health insurance benefits.”

Dr. Richard Rhodes, Chair-Elect of TACC and President of El Paso Community College added, “Achieving a lasting solution to this issue was the top priority of the membership of our association for the 81st Legislature.

“We are pleased that we could work with Governor Perry and Representative Solomons to achieve this solution. Community colleges are committed to working with the governor and Legislature to finalize this agreement and to make Texas a better place.”

Auvenshine said the funding picture looks pretty good for Clarendon College right now as the Legislature continues to meet this month.

“In the worst case scenario, we won’t get any less than we did last time,” Auvenshine said. “The only difference is that this time we will have earned all our money. We’ve always gotten the base funding, but now with increased enrollment we’ve earned our appropriation.”

Under the current budget, Clarendon receives $2.1 million per year from the state, and there is a chance CC’s financial picture could improve.

“The best case would be if some of Sen. Duncan’s bill survived in some form and brought in a rural college supplement,” Auvenshine said. “That could give Clarendon College an additional $500,000.”