Florida is facing its most severe budget crisis in recent history. Currently, the legislature and Governor Crist are preparing the state budget for fiscal year 2008-2009 with declining revenues. Significant cuts will impact the BCC budget. Your voice is needed to keep us from a suffering a disproportionate reduction in funds. BCC and other community colleges cannot sustain a level of quality during a time of increasing enrollments if state funds are decreased. Week two of the legislative session has ended. The halls and rooms in the Capitol Complex have one prevailing concern -- the current budget crisis: how did it happen, how long will it last and what will be the outcome?
As you know, the legislature offset the initial fiscal year cuts to the community college system by providing a tuition increase and a one-time increase in non-recurring dollars during their special session earlier this year.
This past week, a second round of budget cuts was passed by the legislature. Further cuts will be necessary to balance the budget against the projected revenue available for next year. Under this proposal, community colleges will receive a $15 million cut in operating funds (3.3 percent). For Broward Community College, this is a loss $1,445,611. This represents both a cut to nonrecurring and recurring dollars.
The Governor has now signed the General Appropriations Act. The decreased appropriation will be the base from which the additional cuts for next year will be made. Legislative leadership has indicated that development of next year's budget may start as early as this week but no allocations have been made yet.
The challenge to the system: How are we going to manage cuts and accommodate the needs of the state?
The legislature hopes to have a final document by March 27th and to distribute the document on March 29th. Their charge is to produce a balanced budget with the revenue available.
Bills
Fee bill– Senate Bill 2514 by Villalobos - This bill changes the amount of money rural community college may receive for financial aid purposes and creates a separate section pertaining to community colleges. Other provisions include authorization for fee waivers and technical changes. This is one of the Council of Presidents’ legislative priorities.
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Bond Finance —Senate Bill 696 by Senator Oelrich - This bill authorizes community college boards of trustees to enter into short-term loans and installments, lease –purchase, and other financing contracts.
Note: The bill is on its first committee agenda in the House on Tuesday and is on the agenda for the last Senate Committee of reference on Wednesday.
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Textbook Affordability House Bill 603 by Representative Flores
The underlying premise for this bill is textbook affordability. This bill prohibits certain actions of community college or state university employees as it relates to student purchases of required textbooks.
Note: Bill has been referred to Schools & Learning Council. Identical companion is SB 2350 by Senator Atwater.
The three bills above are those identified as priority by the Council of Presidents. Community college lobbyists are monitoring a number of bills pertaining to immigration, financial aid, retirement and green buildings. Updates will be provided as soon as there is movement.
Of particular importance to the community college system are the bills and conversations surrounding governance of higher education. A brief analysis of the House and Senate Bills is provided below:
| CS/CS for Senate Joint Resolution 2308 | PCB SLC 08-02 HJR 7025 | Amends sections 4 of Article IV and Sections 2 and 7 of Article IX and creates a new section of Article XII of the State Constitution.
| Identical provision | | Amends Section 4 of the Constitution pertaining to the cabinet to add the Commissioner of Education as a member. | Identical provision | | The Commissioner is given the responsibility for the supervision of the public education system. | Identical provision | | The Governor and Cabinet are constituted as the State Board of Education | Identical provision | | The appointed State Board of Education is abolished. | Identical provision | | Provides the Board of the Governors with authority to govern the State University System only as provided by law. | Identical provision | Reduces membership of Board of
Governors from 14 to 5.
| Identical provision | | No similar provision Added by amendment Thursday | Creates a Florida College System comprised of two-year and four year public postsecondary institutions.
| | No similar provision Added by amendment Thursday | Create the Florida College Board to oversee and coordinate the Florida college system. |
Name Change legislation:
Senator Ring has a bill authorizing community college name changes. Representative Bogdanoff’s bill statutorily changes Broward Community College to Broward College.
Amendments will be offered to change Daytona Beach Community College to Daytona College.
Within the next few days, you may be asked to contact your state representative and senator to express your objection to budget cuts that will impact the quality of BCC's educational program. A list of the Broward Delegation members can be found on the Governmental Relations web page at: http://www.broward.org/legislative/pdf/2008directory.pdf Do not use college resources/phones/computers/stationary to communicate with these offices as state law prohibits such political action from college facilities.
Below is a link to FACC’s PERCEPTION which provides updates on current legislative issues and bills.
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PERCEPTION