By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
Cuts contained in Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm's 2006 Executive Budget would cost Southwestern Michigan College $106,500, President David M. Mathews said Friday.
Last year, community colleges agreed to hold tuition increases to the rate of inflation or less.
In return, the state was to refrain from such aid reductions.
Granholm said her budget increases funding for the state's 15 universities and 28 community colleges in both 2005 and 2006.
The budget proposes issuing bonds for special maintenance projects at these institutions of up to $100 million for each of the two years.
This increase is offset by a $30 million reduction in discretionary funding in both years.
SMC will be going to voters May 3 seeking approval for a 1.5-mill boost in operational millage to make up funds the college lost to Headlee rollbacks and state assistance cuts.
SMC's three-mill levy has been shrunk to 2.54 mills by tax-limitation rollbacks, costing the college more than $688,000 per year.
Base state aid to SMC has plunged by more than $1 million over the past three years.
At the same time, Economic Development Job Training funds have been slashed from $650,000 annually to nothing.
Community colleges are grappling with many of the same issues as K-12 education, such as soaring health care and retirement costs.
To reduce operating costs, SMC already eliminated some low-enrollment programs, froze wages and reduced administrators where possible.