Gov. Perdue’s 2010-11 Budget Recommendations: Community Colleges

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Community College student enrollment in North Carolina is projected to increase by 16%, totaling 34,000 additional students, for fiscal year 2010-11.

Governor Perdue’s Community College Budget includes an $85 million expansion million to fully fund this rapidly growing enrollment. The Budget is 6% of the total operating budget.  

On net, the Governor recommends expanding the Community College budget by $32 million, or 3.2 percent, over the spending plan approved in last year’s budget bill.

Major expansions and reductions include:

Expansions

• $85 million in additional funding to finance anticipated enrollment growth of 16 percent
• $6.5 million in additional expenditures for the need-based financial aid program, totaling a 46% increase
• $2.5 million recurring spending expansion to address equipment, technology and training needs at the colleges

Reductions

• An $8 per credit hour tuition increase will lessen the state’s support by $32 million. Twenty percent of the funds generated, however, would be set aside to fund need-based aid and Federal Pell grant program
• Mandates a $33 million (or 3.5 percent) community college flexibility reduction, used to make reductions on a case by case basis, specific to the college’s need
• $10 million reduction in state support due to an unanticipated $10 million extra in tuition and fee collections, due to sharp enrollment increase