i State's colleges signal there's a limit to cuts
State's colleges signal there's a limit to cuts
BY MATTHEW STONE
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel 02/25/2009

AUGUSTA -- The leaders of Maine's community colleges and public universities appeared resigned Tuesday to budget realities that will likely force them to cut back over the next two years.

Instead of suggesting changes to Gov. John Baldacci's biennial budget proposal at a hearing Tuesday, the officials urged legislators to be cautious in directing the two institutions to work more closely in efforts to boost efficiency.

At the University of Maine System, a $5 million state funding cut would likely lead to more layoffs, Chancellor Richard L. Pattenaude said. In the last year, the system's seven campuses laid off 34 employees and eliminated 200 positions.

"We do understand the enormous financial challenge facing our state," Pattenaude told members of the Legislature's Appropriations and Education committees. "We're prepared to do our part by looking within our own organization to control costs and mitigate tuition increases."

In recent months, the university system has taken money-saving steps, the chancellor said.

The system recently convened a task force that will recommend major changes to the universities' operating model as the seven campuses attempt to close a $42.8 million budget projected over the next four years.

Maine's seven community colleges have constantly evolved -- and done more with less money -- since their 2003 inception, Maine Community College System President John Fitzsimmons told legislators.

"We're at 15,000 students and we're running at a budget set up for 10,000," he said. "For us, this has been a constant revamping of our system to serve more people."

A $1.5 million cut to the community colleges' state allocation -- at a time when their enrollment is growing -- will reduce the system's capacity by 450 students, Fitzsimmons said. The funding cut would force the system to reduce parts of seven academic programs and eliminate 20 faculty, staff and administrative positions.

The college officials spoke of boosting efficiencies amid discussions about a provision in Baldacci's budget that would direct the universities, community colleges and the Maine Maritime Academy to combine a variety of administrative functions. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services would oversee that process.

Legislators expressed skepticism about that proposal during Tuesday's hearing.

"I think if the administration really wanted collaboration, coordination, I think the administration would have proposed a single board of trustees ... instead of diluting it," said Sen. Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport.

But Rep. Emily Ann Cain, a Democrat, said state government would be overstepping its boundaries by recommending and implementing savings plans for the higher education agencies.

"To me, it seems sort of an unnecessary or unwarranted overreach," Cain said. "To me, it just seemed like a pre-emptive strike of some kind."

Matthew Stone -- 623-3811, ext. 435

mstone@centralmaine.com

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