by Dr. Steve Thomas, President
Midland College
I wrote several weeks ago of the impending crisis with the state budget, and I am sure that you have read or heard that the base bill recommended by the House Appropriations Committee is even worse than we thought. No one expected the recommendation to eliminate funding for Odessa College, Frank Phillips, Ranger and Brazosport. We did expect a reduction in formula funding, which currently stands at a -7.7%, but combined with a 82.3% reduction in Group health Insurance and other changes, community college funding is down 18.9%. These numbers do not take into account enrollment growth which compounds the problem.
Beginning in February, we will develop our operating budget for 2011-2012 starting with worst case scenario to best case scenario realizing that we will not know exactly where we stand with state appropriation until summer. I have stated on several occasions that we will analyze ways in which we can reduce our budget that will be least disruptive to our students and everything is on the table for discussion. I am aware that these are anxious times and many are worried about the impact job loss and other circumstances might have on the community. I encourage you not to worry because it is very early in the process and I am confident that there will be a grass roots effort to work out a compromise with the Legislature that will be more manageable.
We will continue to work hard to provide a quality education for our students, we will continue to grow, and we will weather this storm together. Thank you for your encouragement and support and for all that you do to serve our students. I am very proud to be a part of Midland College.
Steve
Midland College
I wrote several weeks ago of the impending crisis with the state budget, and I am sure that you have read or heard that the base bill recommended by the House Appropriations Committee is even worse than we thought. No one expected the recommendation to eliminate funding for Odessa College, Frank Phillips, Ranger and Brazosport. We did expect a reduction in formula funding, which currently stands at a -7.7%, but combined with a 82.3% reduction in Group health Insurance and other changes, community college funding is down 18.9%. These numbers do not take into account enrollment growth which compounds the problem.
Beginning in February, we will develop our operating budget for 2011-2012 starting with worst case scenario to best case scenario realizing that we will not know exactly where we stand with state appropriation until summer. I have stated on several occasions that we will analyze ways in which we can reduce our budget that will be least disruptive to our students and everything is on the table for discussion. I am aware that these are anxious times and many are worried about the impact job loss and other circumstances might have on the community. I encourage you not to worry because it is very early in the process and I am confident that there will be a grass roots effort to work out a compromise with the Legislature that will be more manageable.
We will continue to work hard to provide a quality education for our students, we will continue to grow, and we will weather this storm together. Thank you for your encouragement and support and for all that you do to serve our students. I am very proud to be a part of Midland College.
Steve
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