2012-13 Budget Planning Update

The College is in the process of designing models and processes to meet yet to be determined budget targets for next year.

The first step is to refine our budgeting practices to maximize the use of every dollar available to the College. This will help us more accurately project the impact of the second year of the state budget reductions and tax levy freeze.  You may recall that the total amount of state aid to all WTCS colleges has been reduced and there continues to be strict limits on the amount the College can tax for operations.

Our Budget Office is currently working to recalculate the 2011-12 budget based on updated realities and assumptions. This data, coupled with realistic assumptions for 2012-13, will be used to forecast the anticipated gap for the next fiscal year budget. That work is anticipated to be completed in early October.

In prior years, the Budget Office distributed “new funding forms” for future year requests in conjunction with the beginning of the unit planning process. This year we are proceeding with 2012-13 budget planning on an accelerated schedule. Until we know more about the effect of budget recalculations and changing forecast assumptions, we are reluctant to distribute the new operational funding request forms for 2012-13. Those forms will not be distributed at this time. The state imposed tax levy freeze does not apply to levy amounts for capital equipment purchases. The capital request forms will be distributed at a later, yet to be determined date.

Following the calculation of the anticipated gap, the Senior Vice President for Administration, Roger Price, and the Provost, Terry Webb, (with the help of the Budget Office) will lead a college-wide effort to identify the options in reallocation, reductions, and revenue opportunities that will allow us to present a balanced budget. We will re-examine the budget reduction ideas collected last year and determine their fit for the coming year’s budget strategies. We will also initiate information sessions and other involvement options to make this process as open as possible. The College depends on input and reactions from various stakeholders in making budget decisions including the faculty and staff unions.

Our goal is to identify specific budget balancing strategies by the end of the 2011 calendar year. We will make every effort to keep you all informed as that effort progresses.

Roger Price                                                                                                                         Terry Webb
Sr. Vice President for Administration                                                                                      Provost