October 1, 1999
El Cajon — The Governing Board of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has adopted the 1999-2000 budget of $103 million at this evening's board meeting. The district anticipates serving more than 23,000 students in the coming year and has projected the greatest number of construction and remodeling projects since the colleges were built. Chancellor Omero Suarez credits a combination of state support, enrollment management and a healthy economy for the district's first budget that exceeds $100 million.
The budget includes restricted and unrestricted operating funds, $1.3 million in block grants from the state for instructional materials and technology, and a $2.8 million contingency reserve. The reserve, by board policy, is 5 percent of the prior year's actual unrestricted general fund expenditures.
Chancellor Suarez called the budget "the first step to providing 21st century educational services for East County. It will allow us to enroll more students. It provides funds for instructional materials, which means improved resources to aid student learning, including technology labs. And, it allocates $5.3 million for major maintenance projects."
Overall the total budgets is 17 percent higher, and the unrestricted operating budget is 8 percent more than last year.
Suarez stressed that the district continues to be one of the state's lowest funded districts on a per student basis. He is actively working with a task force appointed by the state chancellor, to close the disparity in funding.
Governing Board President Ron Kraft said that the budget provides for the district's day-to day needs, but doesn't address the board's biggest financial challenge-funding major construction projects. "Both colleges have identified in their master plans over $60 million in new facilities needed over the next ten years."
Compared to last year's actual expenditures, Grossmont College will receive 15 percent more in unrestricted funds for a total of $36.8 million in the 1999-00 budget. Grossmont's restricted funds total more than $10 million. Cuyamaca will receive an increase of 11 percent in unrestricted funds for more than $15.1 million in the 1999-00 budget. Cuyamaca is allocated more than $3.7 million in restricted funds.
New and expanded buildings on both campuses are a priority for the district to meet anticipated enrollment growth in the next ten years. This year, the district expects 1,000 more students will attend classes for credit, with totals of 16,000 students at Grossmont College and 7,000 at Cuyamaca College.
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