Recent numbers released by the district anticipate an $8.7 million reduction in districtwide funds for the 2010-11 academic year.
From this, Contra Costa College is expecting a $2 million future cutback to its general budget.
Yet, district and college officials are kept in waiting as the state continues to change reductions in numbers, delaying accurate estimates of any additional reductions to general funds and categorical programs.
“It’s really hard to try to estimate a college budget when you don’t really know what your final numbers are until the state does its final numbers,” said Kindred Murillo, vice chancellor of districtwide administrative services.
The number of unpredictable cuts threatens the accessibility of education and opportunity for students, faculty and staff, Murillo said.
“We can’t provide all the services we’ve been providing,” she said. “It’s just not possible.”
For 2009-10, CCC shrank its college expenditures by $1.4 million and experienced a total average reduction of 40 percent to categorical programs.
Many students were quick to feel the effects of the cutbacks made in the year, noticing a smaller class schedule, increased tuition fees and fewer student services.
“I feel like there’s not much attention on me as a student,” communications major Rebecca Yang said. “There’s not enough focus on students individually.”
Further reductions and modifications may result in students losing the motivation to pursue their majors, Yang said.
“If there are so many barriers, some might say it’s too much,” Middle College High School senior Stephany Pizano said. “The point of community college is to be cheaper, accessible and more free. If it’s not like that, what can they expect from a university?”
To combat the budget cuts for the next academic year, the college is implementing cost-saving measures, such as reducing course offerings, not replacing vacant positions and issuing staff layoffs.
“The access to education is being limited by the state funding reductions,” Vice President Carol Maga said.
With staff and faculty facing retirement opportunities and layoffs, the amount of unfilled vacant positions would require remaining workers at the college to adopt more shared responsibilities, Maga said.
The distribution of an employee’s duties may result in tasks taking longer to be completed, she said.
“This is not a good thing to be happening, but it’s the way it is,” Maga said.
Murillo said several districtwide layoffs to classified staff were distributed earlier this month.
“Those who were left behind are left to do the work,” Director of Business and Services Mariles Magalong said.
CCC, with 94 percent of its college budget composed of employee salaries and benefits, was not exempt from making these reductions, Magalong said.
“No matter what you do, you lose,” President McKinley Williams said. “It’s hard to justify.”
Though approximate numbers have not yet been released, Murillo said additional cuts to categorical programs may not happen, though the services may still need to adjust to the reductions made this year.
“We’re just starting to (experience) the depth of the problem,” Senior Dean of Students Frank Hernandez said.
Categorical programs, which include EOPS, Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) and matriculation, are restricted funds provided by the state.
Counseling department Chairwoman Norma Valdez-Jimenez said counseling, as part of matriculation, has dealt with a budget slash, causing it to reduce opening hours during the summer session.
Typically open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., the upcoming summer counseling hours will be between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., she said.
“We have a lot fewer counselors on staff in the summer than (we have) in the past,” she said.
In addition, the Counseling Office will be closed a week after finals from May 31 through June 4, as the summer schedule was cut of its intersession courses, she said.
Williams said, “The sacrifice is going to probably touch everyone at the college. I don’t think anyone’s going to avoid the pain or anguish.”
Historically serving a population of students “coming unprepared,” Hernandez said offering fewer services would be “turning our backs to our community.”
Contact Asia Camagong at acamagong.advocate@gmail.com
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