As government officials and legislators try to figure out what to do about a worsening budget shortage, local community college officials are getting nervous. Already ordered to slash budgets by 4 to 5 percent — effective immediately — administrators at Pierce, Bates Technical and Tacoma Community colleges have been asked to prepare for cuts as deep as 20 percent in 2009. For those of you not versed in budgeting dynamics, a 20 percent cut is a terrifying thing to consider.



Initial cuts are set to commence next week.



“I’m kind of wracking my brain about what we can do,” says Ivan Gorne, vice president of Student Services at Bates Technical College. “It’s pretty ugly.”



Barring an unlikely economic turnaround, Bates and other schools will have to cut staff, offer fewer classes, and offer fewer seats for students in existing classes during the coming year. A 20 percent cut to budgets at Pierce College and others would translate roughly into a 15 percent drop in student capacity, says Suzy Ames, Pierce College’s vice president of advancement. Gorne adds, tragically, that demand for classes is at an all-time high, mostly because droves of laid-off workers are going back to school.



Aside from putting the pinch on classes, looming budget cuts also mean fewer skilled workers heading out into the marketplace, which college administrators contend could very well slow down any pending economic recovery. Pierce College administrators refer to it as “starving the solution.” It’s a term being used by other junior colleges throughout Washington and the rest of the United States as school administrators make a case for their slice of the taxpayer pie.



“We (community colleges) have a unique ability to get people trained and retrained for jobs,” says Ames. “Community and technical colleges are a critical tool.”



Community colleges have always been part of the solution for economic recovery, adds Gorne, who also recognizes that legislators have serious funding problems to tackle in 2009.



“We realize it’s a major funding problem for the state,” he says. “We’re looking at how we can get through this without doing too much damage.”



For example, Pierce County’s big three are looking for ways to share responsibilities for maintaining programs and courses that students need to complete degree programs.

“If we have to cut a program, we have to help students,” says Gorne. “We have a responsibility.”



Programs that are doubled up among local colleges could be consolidated, with classes and offerings migrating between Pierce, Bates and TCC. That’s just one creative measure being considered.



Efforts also wouldn’t be complete without some good, old-fashioned begging and advocating. That’s among bargaining tools used by senior administrators from local community colleges in meetings with legislators recently — part of a nationwide effort by community colleges. Earlier this week, Pierce College Chancellor Michele Johnson addressed legislators and trumpeted all the ways community colleges are working to speed recovery and bring greater financial stability to Pierce County. Pierce Puyallup President Tana Hasart and Pierce Fort Steilacoom President Denise Yochum outlined resources that are already available at the colleges to help job seekers. Pierce College students shared their own stories. The hope is to convince legislators to preserve college budgets, even if just a little. Legislators will decide during the next couple of months how to dole out what money is left for community colleges. College trustees, who are responsible for approving initial budgets, are sharpening their axes in grim anticipation.

“We have to cut 5 percent immediately,” says Ames. “And we have to prepare for a 20 percent cut beginning in July (2009). We’ll need to start that process now. It’s going to be a huge challenge.”