College Adopts 2018-19 Budget that Freezes Tuition

No Increase in Tuition or Sponsor Counties Contributions

The Tompkins Cortland Community College Board of Trustees has adopted a $40,749,150 budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year, which begins September 1, 2018. The 2018-19 budget does not increase tuition, holding the full-time rate at $4,950 per year (for New York State residents) and $181 per credit for part-time students (for New York State residents). The budget also includes no increase in taxpayer dollars provided by Tompkins and Cortland counties.  
Highlights of the budget include:  
•    The $40.7 million budget is 0.3 percent smaller than the approved budget for 2017-18.   
•    Projected enrollment for 2018-19 is 3,454.6 FTEs, a decrease from the budgeted enrollment for 2017-18 of 3,475.4, but an increase from the projected 2017-18 enrollment of 3,425.6.   
•    Salaries (-3.2 percent) and employee benefits (-2.07 percent) are both projected to go down. The decrease is due to a smaller workforce (net reduction of 13 FTE positions), as well as a reduction in the employer contribution rate of state retirement costs.
•    The 2018-19 budget includes no increase in full-time or part-time tuition, the first time that has happened since the 1994-95 budget. For New York State residents, tuition will be $4,950 per year for full-time students and $181 per credit for part-time students. Overall, the College projects revenue from tuition and fees will be slightly more than $20.3 million, a decrease of less than 1 percent from 2017-18.
•    The budget includes no increase in contributions from Tompkins and Cortland counties for the third straight year. The percentage of the total budget funded by the sponsor counties will be 11.6 percent. Tompkins’ share is $2,976,233, while Cortland’s is $1,674,131. Each county’s share is determined based on a three-year average enrollment ratio.  
•    The budget includes state aid to community colleges of $2,847 per FTE, an increase of $100 in the rate from the 2017-18 budget. Total state aid revenue is projected at $10,613,687, an increase of $112,039 (1.1 percent) from 2017-18.  
•    The budget appropriates $45,000 from fund balance.

In addition to the College’s Board of Trustees, the budget must also be approved by Tompkins and Cortland counties and the State University of New York Board of Trustees. The Tompkins County Legislature approved the budget June 19. The Cortland County Legislature is expected to act on the spending plan at its June 28 meeting. The State University Board of Trustees will act on the budget in September.