Oxnard College held a forum at the Community Student Service Center on Feb. 23 to offer faculty and students a platform for potential questions regarding the budget for the fiscal year and cuts if faces.
Dr. Richard Duran, Oxnard College President, Dr. Erika Endrijonas, OC Executive Vice President and Dr. John Al-Amin, Vice President of Business services spearheaded the 2-hour Budget/Accreditation forum.
The reduced budget will affect every aspect of OC. In spite of the shortfall, Endrijonas assured that efforts to provide the best possible learning environment are in place in spite of the deficit.
“We are committed to offering all of the required courses so that students can complete their degree or certificate at Oxnard College,” said Endrijona in an email.
Presently, the state budget deficit is more than $24 billion. The governor’s new budget reduced the base appropriation to the California Community College system by $400 million, with the assumption that the ongoing tax increase will pass legislation and will be adopted by voters on the June Ballot. If the Ballot doesn’t pass, potential loss to all community colleges in California could amount to 7 percent. For OC the revenue deficit would be $1.8 million.
Al-Amin made it clear that a long-term outlook is necessary. In his respective opinion relief will not be in sight until the year 2016 to 2017.
“We need to make plans now to get us through the next three to five budget cycles,” said Al-Amin. “The reduced budget plan affects personnel, scheduled maintenance, equipment, student services and college services.”
He assured that core programs will not be affected, however class schedules will be cut or offered less frequently and expenditures for supplies and needed equipment will be reduced in order to function within the budget.
To help fill the budget gap student fees will increase by $10, from $26 per unit to $36, according to Duran.
“That’s the best case scenario,” said Duran. “If the district budget appropriation gets reduced by $18+ million, the unit price may go to $66 per unit.” This presents a substantial fee hike for many Students.
David Hernandez, a 19-year-old psychology major, is well aware that this increase may force him to take action.
“I’ll have to get extra money to continue,” said Hernandez. “Maybe get an additional job, or take less [fewer] classes,” said Hernandez.
The message from the top administrators was clear; budget cuts are unavoidable. But how severe those cuts will be depends on whether California Legislators will allow the ballot measure to increase taxes to be put before the voters.
Another forum at OC is planned in May with updated information.
