President’s Update, June 2018

June 27, 2018

Dear CF Family:

The District Board of Trustees and I would like to say thank you for your efforts in supporting our students and community. I would like to share some highlights of the 2018-2019 operating budget approved today at the District Board of Trustees meeting.

The 2018-2019 budget of $39,173,411 is slightly less ($141,712) than the budget for 2017-2018. Some of the challenges with our recent budgets include reduced revenue from declining enrollment and lack of new funding from the state in the performance funding model. We have been able to deal with those challenges using our fund balance reserves and in securing additional operational support from the Legislature. Those strategies allowed us to invest in you with a raise last year and to support the programs and services in critical need by our community.

Our new budget for 2018-2019 includes $1 million in nonrecurring state appropriations, a one-time, nonrecurring $500,000 transfer from the CF Foundation, as well as $300,000 from our fund balance reserves. Additionally, we still do not know if we will receive any funding from the performance funding model; we are hoping for good news by the end of July. While our total budget is less than last year and has a sizeable amount of funding that goes away next year (nonrecurring), we are making it a priority to invest in you for your performance and support of our students and community.

This afternoon, the board approved a nonrecurring, one-time payment of 1.5 percent of salary for eligible full-time team members employed as of Dec. 31, 2017, and a $200 one-time payment for current eligible part-time team members who were employed as of Dec. 31, 2017, and received a payroll check for the pay period ending May 15, 2018. Employees who transitioned from part-time to full-time with no break in service 2017-2018 are eligible for 1.5 percent. Regular part-time professional, part-time career, part-time instructors and adjuncts are eligible for the $200; part-time student assistants are not eligible. Payment will be made on June 29 via direct deposit or mailed check.

Our goal was to provide nonrecurring, one-time 3 percent for full-time employees and the $200 one-time payment for part-time employees. We are hoping that we can provide the additional 1.5 percent to full-time employees, but will have to wait until we know that we will receive additional state appropriations this summer and see where fall enrollment ends up. We are budgeting a 1 percent enrollment decline for fall, but we are down 4 percent as of this morning. The additional 1.5 percent payment for full-time employees would need to be approved by the board at the beginning of fall semester.

We are pleased to provide this benefit along with the reduced summer work hours, spring and winter breaks, and continued 100 percent coverage of employee health insurance despite increasing costs.

I appreciate your support of CF and our students! Together we are transforming lives and becoming the first choice for quality higher education in our community!

Enjoy your time with family and friends during our summer schedule.

Jim