PLATTSBURGH — The county is being pressed for almost $99,000 more in its annual sponsorship of Clinton Community College.

"One of the things that really gave me peace of mind as I took the job here as president on June 1, and leading up to that, is knowing that we have a good relationship between the county and the college," said John Jablonski, the new president of Clinton Community.

Under state rules, 27 percent of the operating costs of a community college comes from the local sponsor, with the rest coming from tuition and the state.

In 2009, the county increased its contribution by $84,537 to a total of $2,252,161.

For the proposed 2010 budget, the college is looking for the county to contribute $2,351,038, which is $98,878 more than last year.

BUDGET CUTS
The college told the Clinton County Legislature Finance Committee this week that CCC had already made a number of cuts and changes in its budget.

"We know that these are tough economic times for the county and for the state," Jablonski said. "So, we're tapping into our fund balance to the tune of $268,000 for this proposal."

At the close of the 2009 budget season, that fund will have an estimated $1,463,000 remaining, enough to support 39 days of operating expenses for Clinton Community.

The college also expects to close the 2009 fiscal year with vacant positions, which will not be filled in 2010. These include one faculty position, the associate dean for enrollment management and a building mechanic.

Another faculty position is being merged into a criminal-justice teaching position.

"Other than personnel, we've asked all of our staff to reduce (their budget) by 2 percent across the board," Jablonski said.

JOBS ADDED
The proposed budget includes an overall 2-percent increase in spending.

In order to increase enrollment and revenue for the 2010 fiscal year, the college hopes to create four new positions. Two are teaching positions — for the wind energy turbine technology program and the environmental science program — and are funded by grants.

Two new non-teaching positions are planned for the next year.

One is a new staff member in the Continuing Education Department.

"We have served 130 businesses throughout our service area, and we do contract training for them," Jablonski noted.

"On those contracts, we often make a little margin. So, the position that we're adding is a strategic one because we believe that the revenue that we will generate will more than offset the expense of the position that is in there."

A second non-teaching position is also expected as the college looks to hire another recruiter in the Admissions Office.

"Thirty-nine percent of the high-school graduates in this community enroll in Clinton Community College," Jablonski noted.

Other students are involved in College Advanced Placement classes while in high school.

"Enrollment is critical for us," Jablonski said. "It's critical because that's our mission. Without people enrolled in the program, we're just bricks and mortar.

"But it's also important financially. Our budget is funded in large part by the number of students that we enroll."

Those students are to pay more in the proposed budget.

"We are proposing ... that the students increase their contribution by way of the tuition that they pay next year," Jablonski said.

Tuition will rise $70 per semester.

"That still keeps us very affordable, very reasonable," Jablonski said.