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In the News...
April 6, 2006
FLORIDAS COMMUNITY COLLEGES URGE SENATE TO ENDORSE GOVERNORS BUDGET
REQUEST
LEESBURG (April 6, 2006) - Those who support and benefit from Lake-Sumter
Community College applauded Governor Jeb Bushs $84 million budget request that
would provide much-needed financial backing for the states 28 community
colleges. Though Floridas House leadership backs Bushs recommendation, the
Senate falls $40 million short of the Governors recommendation. In the Senate
budget, four community colleges would receive 1.4 percent to 1.9 percent
increases and another ten would receive between 2 and 2.5 percent.
These levels are woefully inadequate to pay soaring utility, insurance and
other costs, leaving nothing to provide even minimal salary increases for
faculty and staff, said LSCC President and Chair-elect of the Community College
Council of Presidents Dr. Charles Mojock. The Governor and House would raise
all colleges by at least three percent, which is still a very modest amount in
this year of considerable new revenues. Florida ranks next to last in state
funding per student among schools in the 16-state Southern Region, but the
Florida TaxWatch study shows that community colleges provide a solid return on
investments by increasing students long-term prosperity and, ultimately, the
states economy.
Florida TaxWatch, a non-partisan government watchdog group, released this study
supporting a push for the Senate to reconsider its stance on Bushs budget
request. Its report comes on the heels of other national and regional studies
that consistently show Floridas community colleges at or near the top in
efficiency and productivity measures. The National Center for Public Policy and
Higher Educations Measuring Up 2004 report puts Florida first in the nation
in retention of first-year students and among the leaders in the proportion of
degree completers, relative to the number of students enrolled. The Southern
Regional Education Board shows Florida first in student retention and
progression and first in degrees and certificates awarded.
"We need to invest in our colleges," declared Rep. Joe Pickens (R-21), chair of
the House Education Appropriations Committee, "in order to allow them to build
capacity so that future students have access to the opportunities for acquiring
the skills and knowledge they need to contribute to the growth of the states
economy.
Dr. Bill Law, president of Tallahassee Community College and outgoing chair of
the Council of Presidents added, With Floridas strong economy continuing to
outperform expectations, it is anticipated that the state Revenue Estimating
Conference on April 12 will identify new revenues. We need help, and hopefully
the revenue estimating conference will identify additional funds with which to
deal with the problem. Our students deserve it.
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