LANSING COMMUNITY COLLEGE

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

February 21, 2005

Budget Workshop

3:00 p.m.

Adopted Meeting Minutes

Call to Order

The budget workshop was called to order at 3:08 p.m.

Roll Call

Present: Laverty, Murray, Pelleran, Proctor

Absent: Brannan, Canady, Rasmusson

Trustee Rasmusson arrived at 3:09 p.m.

Limited Public Comment Regarding Agenda Items

There were no comments from the public.

Budget Workshop

Vice President Barbara Larson provided a PowerPoint presentation on the budget process and the future decisions the Board will be making for the 2005-06 proposed budget (the presentation is on file with the official Board materials.) Some of those decisions include closing the deficit gap by raising tuition, further expenditure reductions, or a combination of both.

There was a question and answer period throughout the presentation.

President Cunningham asked for the Board to discuss and provide feedback on the possibility of raising tuition and referred to the tuition scenarios in the presentation. Their feedback will assist the staff in developing a proposal for the April budget workshop.

Chairperson Laverty responded that he would prefer keeping the in-district tuition as low as possible. He realizes that the projected deficit cannot be resolved only by raising tuition and other things will have to happen. He would need more time to review the possibility of raising the out-of-district and international tuition rates.

Trustee Pelleran responded that she does not agree with any of the tuition scenarios. These scenarios would balance the budget on the backs of students and it's important to look at other areas to help balance the budget. She would be supportive of a blend of scenarios that take into consideration program review, reducing staffing in areas that have acquired more staff, and look at fee increases that accurately reflect the cost of programs.

Trustee Rasmusson prefers raising out-of-district tuition.

Trustee Proctor understood that a large component to balance the budget will be raising tuition, but he would prefer reviewing more options.

Trustee Murray understands we are all concerned about keeping in-district tuition as low as possible, but she was concerned with raising out-of-district tuition and how that would affect enrollment.

President Cunningham responded that keeping tuition below the CPI index would mean an increase by approximately $1.50. Anytime the College has significantly increased tuition there has not been an impact on enrollment. However, the College has never been in this situation where the State has continued to cut appropriations every year. President Cunningham encouraged the Trustees to review the document that contains tuition and fee costs from other community colleges and 4-year institutions.

There were additional questions from the Board.

Public Comment

There were no comments from the public.

Adjournment

IT WAS MOVED by Trustee Pelleran and supported by Trustee Proctor for the meeting to adjourn.

Ayes: Laverty, Murray, Pelleran, Proctor, Rasmusson

Nays: None

Absent: Brannan, Canady

Motion carried.

The meeting adjourned at 4:18 p.m.