Northeastern Tech considers ‘drastic measures’ on budget

Northeastern Technical College is struggling to cope with state budget cuts of nearly 25 percent so far, and college officials say they could be forced to take “drastic measures” to continue to provide an higher education for its students.

Northeastern Tech President Dr. Ron Bartley said during a press conference Tuesday the college is struggling to absorb a 24.4 percent reduction in state funds. Since July 1, the college’s state funding has been reduced four times.

To deal with the reductions received through October, Bartley said, the college has instituted a hiring freeze (with eight positions eliminated); reduced library funds by 18 percent; reduced professional development funds by 40 percent; and reduced or eliminated travel to conferences.

These actions only account for budget cuts through October, and the college hasn’t finalized actions to account for the December reductions of 7 percent, Bartley said.

The college doesn’t have “readily available funds in its reserve to (absorb) cuts of this size,” Bartley said.

“There are those that say the effects of Wall Street have not yet filtered down to Main Street, but the 7 percent reduction in December, along with the rumored reductions for 2009 will require (Northeastern Tech) to consider more drastic measures that could very well impact the very mission of the college,” he said.

“Under the current reductions and proposed reductions for (the) 2009-10 budget year, our college will not be able to adequately carry out its mission of providing the work force needed for economic growth in the three counties served by the college. The programs most needed for economic growth are high-cost programs.”

Those programs are in the areas of manufacturing and health care, Bartley said.

Bartley said the percentage of state funding at Northeastern Tech has declined from nearly 40 percent to less than 31 percent. Local funds account for about 15 percent, and the remainder of the budget primarily comes from student fees.

“At the time that colleges are needed the most, funding is being reduced,” Bartley said. “While we recognized that some reduction is necessary, cutting funding to the point that technical colleges won’t be able to provide the skilled work force needed for growth is just unacceptable.”

Actions being considered by the college to absorb further budget cuts include faculty and staff furloughs; the elimination of some programs; reduction or elimination of temporary or part-time positions; and possible closing or reducing access to satellite campuses in Bennettsville, Dillon and Pageland.

Bartley said he doesn’t know yet if there will be any more reductions for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Herbert Watts, chairman of the college’s board of trustees, said the board has been working very closely with Bartley on finding solutions to cover the reductions.

“He (Bartley) has been very active in reporting to us what’s going on and we have been trying to work (on) getting more funding,” Watts said.

Watts said he will attend a legislative conference next week to discuss the financial climate and reductions.

ON THE WEB

Northeastern Technical College, http://www.netc.edu