Budget Advisory Committee

Tuesday, February 27, 2001

Senate Chambers, 2:30 p.m.

The meeting was called to order by Ron Root, Chair; Barbara Croteau (Co-Chair).

Members present: Tiffany Buckley, Craig Butcher, Xuan Ho, Maryanne Michaels, Larry Stimach.

Also present: Robert Agrella

Members absent: M. Bennett (Ex-Officio), Luann Campbell, Micca Gray, M. Lee, Deborah Sweitzer, Sandi Tassano, Mabruka Yazidi.

Staff to the Committee: E. Cichocki, R. Kyle, L. Royer.

Karin Guzman, chair of the Accreditation Steering Committee, will speak at the next BAC meeting about the opportunities to participate in the accreditation process. In advance of that meeting, Ron Root distributed the "Accreditation Statement of Interest" outlining the ten accreditation standards. Ron will lead the charge on two of the items, Standard Seven: Faculty and Staff and Standard Nine: Financial Resources. He encourages everyone to consider where they would like to participate.

Ron Root stated his appreciation to the members of BAC in putting together the FT/PT Plan for the district. The committee's draft went to IPC, who offered it to the Academic Senate, the Classified Senate, and the Associated Students for review. With IPC's approval, the plan went forward to the Board, was approved, and forwarded to the Chancellor's Office. Of special note, the president asked for feedback from the Chancellor's Office and if that is received, Ron will report further to BAC.

The district has received an invitation from the Chancellor's Office to comment on the 2002/03 budget. The Chancellor's Office has put forth an ambitious timeline for response. This year's target date is April 13. The Board of Trustees meets on April 10. A draft document will be distributed prior to the March 27 BAC meeting, reviewed, and forwarded to IPC. Comments were welcomed on any topic on the Chancellor's Office budget proposal list or on last year's document that need to be re-stated, eliminated, emphasized, or expanded.

Some of the items mentioned are:

• More base funding needs to be #1.
• No additional P4E funding above the $300 million, except for COLA.
• Chancellor's Office place holder for categorical programs. (Do not turn down supplemental funding that may become available later in the year.)
• Substitute "designated" funding for "categorical" funding as appropriate when referring to local funding sources.

There were questions about Item #8 Economic Development on the Chancelor's Office list of proposals. Ron Root will contact Luann Campbell to speak at the next BAC meeting to present more background information and a position statement on that proposal.

In regard to Item #1 Access on the Chancellor's list, the question arose as to how many of the system's 71 districts are maxing out on growth. It is important to know what the growth was before a position is taken. In the past, some of this funding has been used to bail out the rapidly declining districts. If there is anything left, it goes back to the state. Lamont Royer and Ron Root will research further. If FTES is under funded, then no matter what growth a district experiences, it will still be under funded. Funding the dollar per student increase is the key.

Other items of concern (unprioritized):

• Non credit programs are under funded
• Equalization
• Missing is a long term infrastructure, maintenance and replacement program
• Statewide, two-way management information system
• Energy costs and health costs increases

Ron Root will begin the process of developing a draft document for distribution to members 3 to 4 working days prior to the March 27 meeting, and if a second draft is necessary, the committee will meet again the following Friday, March 30.

Committee members are invited to a Special Study Session of the Board when the President's Report on SRJC's Fiscal Stability will be reviewed. The Study Session will be at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, 2001, in the Pedroncelli Conference Room prior to the Board's regular session.

Meeting adjourned 3:45.