To Avoid Cuts, Board Should Tap Reserve

An unprecedented shortfall in California’s budget has brought those in the business of education to their knees, with faces to an open flame. Something easily learned in recent times of financial failings is how long it takes until people realize that they really are in trouble.

The media can rant and rave apocalyptic, and allude to The Great Depression, yet the vociferous public outcry comes only after jobs have been lost and there is nothing more to do than whine.

Many community colleges across the state are already whining. Glendale and Citrus College were forced to drop winter intersession, and many others are now facing cuts that are worse. Imagine if PCC were forced to cut key athletics like baseball or basketball just to save some money. In the college’s current condition, this is a possibility.

But for the time being, students shouldn’t have to imagine.

As of the beginning of the 2008-2009 budget year, according to the Board of Trustees, PCC had approximately $15 million in a reserve account. The state requires that each college have a reserve equal to at least 5 percent of their budget. PCC’s $15 million is near 10 percent of the total budget for the year.

So when the BOT released a response to the faculty association’s recent list of facts admitting to the possibility of severe cuts and faculty terminations, something seemed undignified.

Is it a pool of money for trustees to hire exorbitant consultants, or a reserve fund held in case of a financial emergency?

Logic, and perhaps broad moral code tells us that the latter should be the designated purpose for the reserve of a community college.

If PCC has this large amount of money saved, then it follows easily that it should be the last school forced to make cuts.

There is an inexcusable greed at play when college kids are unable to enroll in the classes they had hoped to due to cuts, while the school is sitting on a fat pile of cash.

You cannot claim Social Security when you’re bank account balance has seven digits.

Cutting now is premature and irresponsible, instead of mongering money like a bridge troll it is time for PCC to spend the reserve.