State aid to community colleges fails to cover growing enrollments

But that budget, which the Senate approved 25-4 Tuesday, excludes money for growing student enrollments. RCC's 34 percent growth rate, spurred by its extension of full service to Jackson County in 1997, was first among community colleges statewide during the first half of this academic year.

"I hope we can deal with this later," said Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield. "We have treated community colleges very well the past few sessions. Maybe this is their turn in the barrel."

Beyer said if community colleges fail to get enough state aid to keep pace with demands from growing enrollments, their only alternative is to raise tuition. RCC already plans to raise tuition by $5 per credit next year.

The budget goes to Gov. John Kitzhaber.

The budget provides no new money for growing enrollments, even though community colleges as a whole are increasing by 4.8 percent, more than twice the projected rate.

RCC's extension into Jackson County and the formation of Klamath Community College have swelled student enrollments that are not reflected in their distribution of state aid. RCC President Harvey Bennett said the state needs to make adjustments to account for those increases.

The state's contribution from the tax-supported general fund is $426 million, $30 million more than in the past two years but $6 million less than Kitzhaber wanted.

An additional $3 million goes separately to the Emergency Board, which meets between legislative sessions, for the second year of partnerships of community colleges and state universities. Of the $6 million for partnerships in the next two years, RCC and Southern Oregon University are counting on $2 million to pay for more classroom, library and laboratory space they will share in downtown Medford.

Another bill pending in the Legislature's joint budget committee would pay for an assessment of construction needs at the 17 community colleges. An amendment to Senate Bill 602 would distribute $17 million from lottery-backed bonds to the campuses.

The overall budget for community colleges is $531.3 million, including federal grants. Community colleges also receive income from tuition.

Sen. Joan Dukes, D-Astoria, was among a handful of senators voting against the budget. She did so because it dropped $2 million that Kitzhaber asked for technology for long-distance learning programs.