SSCC in stable financial position; no tuition increase anticipated

Changes proposed by the Ohio Senate for the biennial budget include a cap on tuition increases at $200 for community and technical colleges, rather than the 3.5 percent that applies to other institutions. But prior to the Senate changes, Southern State Community College said it will not be seeking a tuition increase.

   SSCC is in good financial shape to deal with the cap, according to a recent report from Vice President of Business and Finance Jim Buck to the SSCC Board of Trustees. The college will not be considering a tuition increase for the 2011-12 school year.

   During the board's March meeting board member Paul Hall reported on behalf of the finance committee and said that, "There will be a tuition increase. We know that. It will probably be less than most (other colleges). We will have a recommendation at the April board meeting. We need to get this out there so people know it¹s coming."

   But the request for an increase has not formally gone before the board, and when Buck presented the board with an initial budget for 2012 during the board's May 25 meeting, he said, "It reflects no increase in our tuition."

   "This year it looks like we¹re going to finish very strong," Buck said.

   The budget does not reflect an increase in student enrollment, but it also does not anticipate a decrease.

   SSCC officials have said that enrollment is leveling off following a more than 30-percent jump following the DHL layoffs.

   "We're at least starting this budget with a flat enrollment projection," he said. "State funding wise, it reflects the funding that was presented by the governor and was unchanged by the House."

   Buck said that most expenses are not increasing.

   "Essentially besides contractual obligations and minor other adjustments, expenses were basically held flat," Buck said.

   In his written report to the board, Buck said, "As of (May 4) our annual FTE has increase 4 percent over last year. Student Fee Revenue is currently very close to our estimates. We anticipate the college will receive the 12th subsidy payment [from the state of Ohio, which had previously been cancelled by the state] which should increase our annual budget surplus. This should lessen the impact of next year's loss in state funding."

   Buck told the board that, "Even though we were expecting a surplus for this year anyway, that will add to that surplus."

   The subsidy payment is expected to be made by the third week of June, and Buck joked that he will, "wait to see that before I spend it."

   The board voted 6-0 to accept the 2012 proposed budget.

   The board voted to implement a 7-percent tuition increase in May 2010.

   Board members Rory Ryan and Ben Houser both voted against that increase. Ryan and Houser also voted against accepting the fiscal year 2011 budget. Board members Kay Ayres and Paul Hall and former trustees Patty Griffiths, Ralph Shell and Jim Ward each voted for the increase and to accept the budget.