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PCC Board to Hear Measure 47 Impact
Photos and Story by Susan Hereford
The Board of Directors of Portland Community College will meet Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Sylvania Campus, 12000 S.W. 49th Avenue in the Amo De Bernardis College Center, Conference Rooms A and B. An information session is scheduled for 7:40 p.m., at which time President Dan Moriarty and Administrative Services Vice President Connie Sauer will present an update on the 1997-98 budget. The presentation follows Oregon voters’ passage of Measure 47, the state-wide "cut and cap" property tax limitation initiative on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. The presentation is intended as a first step in sharing the financial scenario PCC will face during the next budget cycle.
As a result of Measure 47’s passage, PCC faces a loss of $8.8 million in property tax revenues that would otherwise have been collected over the next two years.
"While it is possible the Legislature will make up some of the loss," said President Moriarty, "PCC needs to proceed with budget development without depending on additional revenue from the state." The college will plan to reduce the budget by approximately $6 million in 1997-99 — which includes $4 million in future property tax losses and a $2 million current deficit.
Moriarty said top priorities in shaping both the 1997-98 and 1998-99 budget will be to maintain strong instructional programs and the college’s investment in technology and facilities. Due to the shift to state control, first with Measure 5, and now with continued limitations on local control imposed by Measure 47, budget priority will be given to programs which generate FTE dollars.
"Programs with low enrollment or programs which generate very few FTE relative to the college’s investment will be subject to reduction,"said Moriarty.
"There will be hard decisions ahead, but I have every reason to believe that the college will meet this new challenge and continue to provide excellent service to our students and community." He asked that the college community support one another during "yet another period of stress and pull together to keep the college and each other strong."
The Board and president will also meet over the next month to develop a plan for reducing programs and administrative and support staff and will work closely with both the faculty and classified unions.
In addition, Moriarty will hold forums on the campuses to answer questions and to get feedback from the college community. "I will keep the college community informed about the budget and other issues," he said.