Budget Advisory Committee

Senate Chambers

2:30 p.m.

1. Approval of February 27, 2001 Minutes- Attachment A
2. Discussion on Accreditation Process- Karin Guzman
3. Approval of 2001-02 Budget Calendar- Attachment B
4. Board Resolution on Utility Costs- Attachment C
5. Review/Approval of Position Paper on Community College Funding for Fiscal Year 2002-03- Attachment D
6. Follow-up on President's Report on SRJC Fiscal Solvency- (Distributed in campus mail; please bring report with you to this meeting)- R. Root

BUDGET ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 27, 2001

Senate Chambers, 2:30 p.m.

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

Members present: Craig Butcher, Luann Campbell, Micca Gray, Xuan Ho, Maryanne Michaels, Sandi Tassano.

Also present: Karin Guzman, Joe Morello

Members absent: M. Bennett (Ex-Officio), Tiffany Buckley, M. Lee, Larry Stimach, Deborah Sweitzer, Mabruka Yazidi.

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

February 27, 2001 minutes were adopted, with one change (Item 3, pg. 1, last bulleted item...delete local funding sources, replace with Partnership for Excellence).

Karin Guzman was invited to give background for the accreditation process. She recapped where the process is now and how the campus community can participate from now on. Close to 80 people responded to the call to serve on the standards committees, and while they are ready to proceed with forming committees they are still seeking participation from students and classified staff interested in Standard Six: Information and Learning Resources; Standard Eight: Physical Resources; and Standard Nine: Financial Resources. The accreditation steering committee will meet on April 6 to finalize the appointments. They are seeking a good combination of expertise and solid knowledge in the ten assigned standards and novices who may offer a fresh approach. Because the process is ongoing and will culminate with the team visit in the Fall of 2002, substitutes are welcome as circumstances change and a certain attrition rate is inevitable. A WASC workshop will be held on May 4 from 9-noon; everyone is invited but particularly those people who are serving on the standards committees.

Eileen Cichocki explained that the calendar is very similar to prior years. The district is now waiting for the Governor's May revise. The tentative budget will go to the Board in June, and the final budget will go to the Board in September for adoption. A suggestion was made to clarify language regarding the mid-February review of preliminary (add: state and local) revenue assumptions. Ron Root explained that the budget process is a continuation budget, working within existing budgets and prioritizing or reordering resources to meet current needs. Ron will follow up with other administrators to make sure that process includes the opportunity to make budget needs known. While Partnership for Excellence (P4E) funding is base funding, the state is requiring that districts report by object code how the funding is intended to be used. It is the district's desire to keep accounting paperwork at a minimum; except when tracking items like one-time projects that overlap into the next year.

Lamont Royer explained that the idea stems from other districts that have gone to their boards with resolutions to seek relief from uncontrollable energy cost increases. Percentages on the resolution were presented at the last board meeting by Jay Carpenter and Curt Groninga. The total dollar impact on those percentages amount to approximately $903,000 for the last one-half of this year and the next full fiscal year. This resolution expresses the board's concern and requests the state consider reimbursing some of these costs. BAC unanimously supported forwarding the resolution to the board.

The Draft response to the Chancellor's invitation to provide feedback on the Governor's proposed 2002-03 budget was reviewed and discussed. It was agreed to make growth the fourth priority (instead of third, as stated in Item 1, pg. 1) and the third priority would become funding COLA for Partnership for Excellence. Also in Item 1, pg. 1, para. 1, sentence 4, remove in American society, replace with California and the larger global environment. Ron Root and Maryanne Michaels will work together on Item 4, Partnership for Excellence, expanding the language to reflect the problems of the under-funded system and that catch-up funds should be part of the general apportionment funding and not tied to P4E funding. The new language will also be reflected in the recommendation and resolution. With BAC's unanimous approval, Ron Root will forward the position paper and the resolution with the new language to IPC for further consideration.

Ron Root asked that members consider what fiscal measures contained in the report are important for the college community to see on at least an annual basis. This item will be first on the April 24 meeting agenda.

Meeting adjourned: 4:15 p.m.