(AACC) is asking the County Council for $5 million more and students to pay $240 more per semester in order to balance what trustees called a bare-bones budget.
The college’s 2013 budget was approved on Tuesday by the Board of Trustees.
Included in the $110,621,000 budget is a tuition hike that raises the credit hour cost by $16. With that increase, a full-time student taking 15 hours of courses would pay $240 more each semester.
“These are tough times,” said trustee Walter Hall.
Hall, also chair of the budget committee, said the tuition hike could be a hard pill to swallow for some students. But it was necessary in order to supplement declining funding from the county.
“We’re going to have to ask the students to make an even greater contribution than they ever have in the past,” Hall said. “That could well affect us in terms of (full-time students).”
The college’s enrollment declined this year, due in part to increases in fees, Hall said. The fee increase proposed in the newest budget is the largest in the college’s history.
Student Association President Abdul Khan spoke at the meeting, saying he believes the tuition hike might convince some students to begin considering universities. Other students who are covered by federal financial aid might not even notice the increase, he said.
Trustees are also relying on the County Council giving them $5.2 million more than last year.
AACC president Martha Smith said the college was hit by an “unanticipated” $5.2 million reduction by the council during budget talks last year. The amount they are requesting this year would restore it to 2011 levels.
To navigate that political minefield, Hall said the budget committee was counting on the support of County Executive John R. Leopold, who in the past has stood behind the college’s requested amount. But it’s ultimately up to the County Council to decide the funding level.
“We’re hoping that if (Leopold) does that, the County Council will step up to the plate and also support that,” Hall said.
Smith said there has been a noticeable decline in performance at the college as a result of the budget cutbacks from the county and stagnant state funds.
“As a result of declining state and county funding, we are now seeing signs of fraying around the edges of our performance and erosion of our mission mandates,” Smith said.
That erosion has kept the college from maintaining a competitive salary, kept students from timely visits with support services and has resulted in significant downtime for its network.
This year’s budget also reserves no funds for salary increases for employees, continuing a trend that was set in 2009.
Revenue for the 2013 budget:
- $26,648,900—state (no change)
- $33,822,700—county (increase of $5,266,300)
- $45,860,000—tuition (increase of $2,523,900)
The budget was passed by a 6-1 vote, with trustee Kimberly Burns voting no. It now moves to the desk of the county executive before it will be presented to the County Council.
Have you even read the Senate Bill 167? Students parents or LEGAL guardian must show proof they paid MD taxes for 3 years, student must have a MD HS diploma or equivalent, student must attend college no later than 4 years after receiving diploma, AND...drum roll please...student must provide an affidavit that they intend to apply for LEGAL permanent resident card within 30 days of becoming eligible to do so. Isn't that what opponents of this bill keep whining about? "They don't pay taxes" Obviously, they must to take advantage of in-state tuition. "They don't speak English" Neither do you, you speak American. Do we know how many high school graduates in this state don't speak "English"? "ILLEGAL IS ILLEGAL!!" Does the application for LEGAL residency satisfy you?!! Probably not.
http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/edu/types.php "The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is the landmark legislation prohibiting discrimination in several areas including housing, employment and education. The sections of the Act relating to education are Title IV, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion or national origin by public elementary and secondary schools and public institutions of higher learning"
A college education is not an entitlement but an affordable college education is necessary if we aren't going to become a nation of serfs. I could earn my tuition in a state school at minimim wage or slightly more in a summer. ($200/semester 3 weeks or work or so at $2.00 and hour) vs $2000 now at AACC (7 weeks of work at $8 an hour) We are really short changing our kids by deciding higher education is only for snobs
How would you figure this will benefit taxpayers since we are already paying to educate the kids of illegals from K-12, we pay the cost of healthcare because no one gets turned away from an emergency room and our health department on Truman Parkway takes care of health needs for many folks and they are not allowed to ask for proof of citizenship. So when you create class of people who are getting handouts, how can that possibly benefit the taxpayer? Now if you told me society would benefit I would still argue that when you create a class of people who depend on the government's dole-outs, that is not benefitting society….and that is certainly not benefitting any group of people.
http://mlis.state.md.us/2011rs/chapters_noln/Ch_191_sb0167E.pdf page 3... There are lots of folks that take advantage of our system...illegal or legal. I agree, it's wrong and we should be diligent about preventing abuse. I also agree with you that "hand outs" benefit no one. See, we have lots of common ground. Let me ask you, if a HS students family IS paying income tax, and if they apply for citizenship, and if they graduate from a Maryland HS, after living here and paying taxes for the past 3 years, don't you think it is reasonable that this student pays in-state tuition?
Amy, it's called an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN), issued by the IRS for people who work in the US. This is why I usually research things before I make an incorrect blanket statement. http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=222209,00.html
What could go wrong with a former US soldier who has something against his country and learns chemistry techniques that includes cow manure in an explosive?
It would be nice to get someone with inside knowledge of the school's budget to provide a reason for the increase.