HCC board approves tuition hike
Posted 1/28/10
Students at Howard Community College would see a $2-per-credit-hour increase in their tuition rate and employees would get a 1.5 percent salary increase under a budget proposal approved by the college’s Board of Trustees Wednesday night.
The $87.1 million spending plan represents the college’s request for funding for fiscal 2011 from county and state officials, and won’t be finalized until funding from those sources is determined later this spring. The fiscal year begins July 1.
After reviewing the proposed budget Wednesday, the board decided to leave intact the college staff’s recommendations for increased tuition and salary. But in response to changes in funding projections, the board trimmed other items, according to college spokeswoman Nancy Gainer.
Based on projections supplied by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed budget, college officials cut about $1.3 million from their spending proposal. To make up for the reduction, the board froze five positions for a full year and two positions for six months, reduced spending on furniture and equipment, and used a portion of the college’s fund balance.
The board’s budget request will be submitted to County Executive Kenneth Ulman. The executive will then submit his proposed county budget, which must be approved by the County Council.
HCC’s current budget is $86.2 million.
College leaders say the tuition increase is needed to operate the growing college, where enrollment is up 18 percent this spring semester compared to last. HCC’s current charge of $114 per credit hour for county residents would increase to $116 under the plan, while the out-of-county charge would increase from $242 to $244.
The increased tuition rate would bring in more than $2.6 million in additional revenue.
Student tuition accounts for about 38 percent of the college's revenue, while the county and state jointly contribute about 43.8 percent of the college's funding. The balance comes from a variety of sources, including grants and other fees.
— Jennifer Broadwater
The $87.1 million spending plan represents the college’s request for funding for fiscal 2011 from county and state officials, and won’t be finalized until funding from those sources is determined later this spring. The fiscal year begins July 1.
After reviewing the proposed budget Wednesday, the board decided to leave intact the college staff’s recommendations for increased tuition and salary. But in response to changes in funding projections, the board trimmed other items, according to college spokeswoman Nancy Gainer.
Based on projections supplied by the Maryland Higher Education Commission and Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed budget, college officials cut about $1.3 million from their spending proposal. To make up for the reduction, the board froze five positions for a full year and two positions for six months, reduced spending on furniture and equipment, and used a portion of the college’s fund balance.
The board’s budget request will be submitted to County Executive Kenneth Ulman. The executive will then submit his proposed county budget, which must be approved by the County Council.
HCC’s current budget is $86.2 million.
College leaders say the tuition increase is needed to operate the growing college, where enrollment is up 18 percent this spring semester compared to last. HCC’s current charge of $114 per credit hour for county residents would increase to $116 under the plan, while the out-of-county charge would increase from $242 to $244.
The increased tuition rate would bring in more than $2.6 million in additional revenue.
Student tuition accounts for about 38 percent of the college's revenue, while the county and state jointly contribute about 43.8 percent of the college's funding. The balance comes from a variety of sources, including grants and other fees.
— Jennifer Broadwater
user comments (1)
user belovedcartoonmouse says...
Whenever you say anything is getting more expensive, it is proper to note that it is a "modest" increase. This is regardless of whether or not the increase is indeed modest.
Posted 8:16 PM, 02.05.10 | Permalink
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