SSCC OKs $19.5 million budget

FINCASTLE – The Southern State Community College Board of Trustees has passed a fiscal year 2013 budget of $19.5 million.

Prior to the board’s regular May meeting, held at the Appalachian Gateway Center at SSCC’s South Campus, the finance committee met to review the budget numbers with SSCC Vice President of Business and Finance Jim Buck.

Buck reported that the college’s revenue is anticipated at $19,503,670 for fiscal year 2013, which begins July 1, 2012. Total expenditures are estimated at $19,503,670.

There is a 4.8 percent increase in revenue, which Buck said was due mostly to an increase in technology fees and tuition.

“Their initial planning has resulted in a balanced budget that is not dependent on transfers from our auxiliary fund,” Buck said in his report. “The fact that fall semester will begin much sooner than our past fall terms on the quarter system, will allow us to gain enrollment data nearly a month sooner than we have in the past. This should provide the college a greater opportunity to respond to enrollment changes.”

The budget is based on a flat rate of student enrollment for fall, when Southern State converts from quarters to semesters. “We’re 5 percent down now,” Buck said. “Each percent is an estimated $100,000. But as enrollment goes down, so does the cost.”

The college is in its last year of a three-year contract with the Southern State Education Association, and it is anticipated that negotiations will begin some time in spring 2013.

It was also reported that the State Architect’s Office, “has successfully negotiated with BHDP Architecture for their design services for our new construction (in Mt. Orab).”

Buck said the deadline for the request for qualifications was Tuesday, and they had received 15 bids for construction managers. It is anticipated the State Architect’s office will have a construction management firm under contract by early to mid June.

The board later voted to pass the budget 8-0. Board member Michelle Cimis was not in attendance.

In other business:

• The board heard a report from fellow trustees Don Moore and Doug Boedeker regarding a conference they attended organized by the American Association of Community College Trustees Governance Institute for Student Success. They offered suggestions regarding programming to increase graduation rates and other areas of student success. The board members had discussions on the matters with SSCC staff, and it was decided the board would establish a student success committee to monitor and encourage the issues.

• Wednesday’s meeting was the last one for board member Rory Ryan, whose six-year term on the board has come to an end.

In an April 9 letter to Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Ryan requested that he not be re-appointed to the board. Ryan was appointed by former Gov. Bob Taft in 2006.

The current terms of board members Kay Ayres and Paul Hall also expire on May 12.

However, SSCC President Dr. Kevin Boys said Wednesday that he has encouraged the governor’s office to re-appoint both trustees.

Ayres has been a trustee since being appointed by former Gov. George Voinovich in 1994. Hall was appointed by Gov. Taft in 2001.

“I feel privileged to have worked with SSCC Presidents Dr. Larry Dukes, Dr. Sherry Stout and Dr. Kevin Boys,” Ryan said. “In addition, I feel equally privileged to have served with the following trustees: Ernie McFarland and Larry Anderson from Adams County; Paul Hall, Bill Herdman and the late Dr. Ben Houser from Brown County; Dan Mongold, Dr. Vicki Wilson, Leilani Popp and Don Gephart from Clinton County; Jim Ward, Patty Griffiths, Don Moore, Judith Craig and Doug Boedeker from Fayette County; and Kay Ayres, Ralph Shell and Michelle Cimis from Highland County.”

“The Adams County Republican Party and David Kelley and Dewey West also have my thanks for putting their trust in me six years ago.”

During Wednesday’s meeting, Ryan expressed his appreciation to Stevetta Grooms, SSCC executive assistant to the president.

• The board’s next meeting will be 4:30 p.m. June 8, which will be just prior to the 2012 graduation ceremonies.