Vallejo and Napa colleges lose more state funds in mid-year cuts

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The stream of state funds for higher education just got thinner with cuts slated for local community colleges and Vallejo’s California Maritime Academy.State officials announced Tuesday the California State University system would be cut an additional $100 million.

Likewise, the California Community College system will immediately lose $102 million based on prior revenue projections not coming to fruition, officials said.

Students attending Solano Community College, Napa Valley College and other community colleges face a $10 per unit increase this summer, state officials announced.

Class costs will rise from $36 to $46 per unit in the summer semester, generating an estimated $110 million in revenues, California Community Colleges Chancellor spokeswoman Paige Marlatt Dorr said. An average student taking 15 units would pay $1,380, up from $1,230.

Solano College prepared for mid-year budget cuts following a loss of $400 million to the entire system this fiscal year, Solano College spokesman Peter Bostic said.

“Fortunately, they delayed the $10 (per unit) tuition increase until July 1. That would have been really cumbersome” if the fee had gone into effect for the spring semester, Bostic said.

A spokeswoman for Napa Valley College said it is not yet clear how the latest funding cuts will impact the college.

The newest cuts are a result of California revenue projections falling below expectations.

Under the current budget lawmakers passed

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last summer, one tier of cuts would be enacted if state tax revenues fell more than $1 billion and even deeper cuts if revenues were even lower.In a conference call with reporters, Community College Chancellor Jack Scott said most community colleges prepared for mid-year budget cuts, according to an announcement from his office.

However, Scott said students will lose part-time faculty, counselors, advisors, tutors and financial aide officers. Fewer course selections, longer wait lists, and larger class sizes are also likely, he added.

The lower revenue projections will mean another loss of $100 million to the California State University system on top of the $650 million that schools already took earlier.

California Maritime Academy, one of 23 schools in the CSU system, could lose an estimated $725,000 annually, the school’s Director of Communications Jennifer Whitty said.

Cal-Maritime President Bill Eisenhardt said the school could absorb the loss from its reserves one year, but probably not permanently.

“However, we are trying to create a cushion to do so if need be by implementing a number of cost strategies, including transitioning from two training cruises to one starting this coming summer,” Eisenhardt said.

Running just one student-training cruise per year could save $500,000 in annual costs,” Eisenhardt said.

Contact staff writer Sarah Rohrs at srohrs@timesheraldonline.com or (707) 553-6832.

via Vallejo and Napa colleges lose more state funds in mid-year cuts.

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