De Anza College may face less severe budget cuts than anticipated. The state has received more tax revenue than was expected, according to Gov. Jerry Brown’s May budget revision. Jack Scott, California’s Community College Chancellor, said that the revision of the California budget “will give our colleges … needed resources in this difficult year.” Yet, the Foothill-De Anza Community College District is still preparing for the worst case. Since the revisions hinge on tax extensions, nothing can be confirmed until June 1.
The state of California received $6.6 billion more than expected from tax revenue, and the state’s budget deficit has been reduced from $26.6 billion to $10.8 billion (a $9.6 billion deficit plus a $1.2 billion reserve build). There will be a base reduction of $400 million for community colleges that will be offset with an increase of student fees by approximately $110 million. The net apportionment reduction is currently $290 million. Another change is that $350 million from the new tax revenues have been allocated to reduce CCC deferrals from $961 million to $611 million.
District officers from the Foothill-De Anza Community College District are reviewing the revised budget to evaluate the distribution of funding reductions for De Anza and Foothill College.
“It is too early to comment on how the Governor’s revised budget will affect the FHDA district as we have not yet received details,” said District Chancellor Linda Thor.
District Vice Chancellor of Business Services Kevin McElroy and Director of Budget Operations Bernata Slater attended an Association of Chief Business Officials conference Tuesday to learn details about Gov. Brown’s May revisions.
The conference offered “crisis management tactics [administrators] need to lead in tough times,” according to the association website.
The May revision hinges on tax extensions by direct legislature vote. The final state budget will be finalized after June 1. Vice President of Finance and Educational Resources Letha Jeanpierre said the De Anza budget is still being planned with the worst-case, all-cuts scenario in mind.
The college’s Instructional Planning and Budget Committee met with division deans and department chairs on Thursday and Friday to discuss division budget cutting plans.
According to Jeanpierre, if the worst-case scenario does not occur, additional funds can always be added later.
“This is when the quarter system is to our advantage,” Jeanpierre said. “We have the opportunity to change with every quarter.”
Officials are hoping that De Anza College will have a “strong summer and fall,” Jeanpierre said. Increased enrollment in the two upcoming quarters would garner De Anza more funding.
A statewide drop in community college enrollment has been attributed to budget cuts. De Anza College’s Outreach and Relations department is campaigning to augment enrollment over the summer and fall. On Saturday the college hosted a New Parent and Student Open House from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student and Community Services Building.
While the revision was described as “fiscally responsible” and “balanced” by Scott, Jeanpierre said that planning the De Anza budget in preparation for the more severe all-cuts scenario “is forcing us to go through what [the De Anza budget] will look like and what effect it will have on the college.”
