State budget cuts will affect BC come spring
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts could cost the KCCD $6.1 million.
Maryann Kopp
Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: News
California's budget issues could affect Bakersfield College in a potentially big way, should Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposal pass as it currently stands.
The governor is seeking to make cuts in several areas to help California deal with its financial situation and has proposed taking $332.2 million away from community colleges. The Kern Community College District would, then, stand to lose an estimated $6.1 million, $4 million of which goes directly to BC.
What that means to BC in terms of where the cuts will be made is yet to be determined, as an agreement on the budget has not been met at this point.
BC president Greg Chamberlain, when asked for specifics, said, "We don't have any specifics at this point. Nothing has been finalized, and there have been several proposals. We should be OK for the rest of the school year, but next year will be the real problem since the inherent problems in the state budget have not been resolved."
In preparation for the cuts, BC plans to make up for the money lost by dipping into funds from district reserves, carry-over and unfilled staff positions. The spring and summer sections will be "reduced somewhat," as well.
"There are two proposals being discussed in Sacramento: one from the governor and one from the Legislative Analyst Office," said John Gerhold, a music professor and the president of the academic senate for BC. "The LAO proposal includes fee increases for students, the governor's does not. The legislature may choose one of these options, mix them or develop their own approach, which is less likely."
Gerhold, like Chamberlain, made an "educated guess" and said that the summer semester will more than likely offer fewer classes and any low enrollment classes (being less than 24 students enrolled in a class) for the spring semester may be cancelled.
"The reason for this is that our district has nearly met its quota of students for the year and we are not even through the first semester," said Gerhold.
While the financial future for the KCCD seems bleak and has yet to be decided, Gerhold maintains that the situation may not be as bad as imagined for now.
The governor is seeking to make cuts in several areas to help California deal with its financial situation and has proposed taking $332.2 million away from community colleges. The Kern Community College District would, then, stand to lose an estimated $6.1 million, $4 million of which goes directly to BC.
What that means to BC in terms of where the cuts will be made is yet to be determined, as an agreement on the budget has not been met at this point.
BC president Greg Chamberlain, when asked for specifics, said, "We don't have any specifics at this point. Nothing has been finalized, and there have been several proposals. We should be OK for the rest of the school year, but next year will be the real problem since the inherent problems in the state budget have not been resolved."
In preparation for the cuts, BC plans to make up for the money lost by dipping into funds from district reserves, carry-over and unfilled staff positions. The spring and summer sections will be "reduced somewhat," as well.
"There are two proposals being discussed in Sacramento: one from the governor and one from the Legislative Analyst Office," said John Gerhold, a music professor and the president of the academic senate for BC. "The LAO proposal includes fee increases for students, the governor's does not. The legislature may choose one of these options, mix them or develop their own approach, which is less likely."
Gerhold, like Chamberlain, made an "educated guess" and said that the summer semester will more than likely offer fewer classes and any low enrollment classes (being less than 24 students enrolled in a class) for the spring semester may be cancelled.
"The reason for this is that our district has nearly met its quota of students for the year and we are not even through the first semester," said Gerhold.
While the financial future for the KCCD seems bleak and has yet to be decided, Gerhold maintains that the situation may not be as bad as imagined for now.
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