For Immediate Release

Monday, Jan. 26, 2009

CCC Moves to Tier II of its Three-tiered Financial Sustainability Plan 

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – Coconino Community College will be going to a four-day work week for the 2009 summer semester from May 11 through Aug. 2, cutting services, further reducing utility use and freezing out-of-state travel for employees. These money-saving measures, effective immediately, were announced by CCC President Leah L. Bornstein in a State of the Budget meeting with all employees Thursday, Jan. 22.    

Meantime, the college is researching additional cost-saving measures such as pooling vacation and sick leave, cutting less popular academic programs, reducing more services, reorganizing departments, offering work furlough options and freezing promotions.

At the Wednesday, Jan. 28 CCC District Governing Board meeting, Dr. Bornstein will be recommending no salary increases and no tuition increases for Fiscal Year 2010, which begins July 1. The board is scheduled to begin its work session at 8:30 a.m. on the Lone Tree Campus, with its regular meeting at 11 a.m.

Dr. Bornstein says the college has entered into Tier II of its three-tiered Financial Sustainability Plan. Tier I included increasing the number of students in classes, holding open vacated positions, cutting planned deferred maintenance projects, and trimming supplies and utility expenses.  

“During these times, we all have budget and sustainability foremost on our minds,” she said. “Our staff has been incredibly positive and resourceful in implementing solutions to be more efficient since last May. Because of additional state funding cuts we will have to be even more creative to try to maintain the services and programs we offer, yet operate on fewer dollars.”

She reminded employees to have patience with one another during these difficult economic times, give each other the benefit of the doubt, maintain a positive attitude and focus on the college’s accomplishments.

In mid January, CCC learned that the Arizona State Legislature is rescinding an additional $12-million from the state’s community college system for Fiscal Year 2009. For CCC that equates to an anticipated 8 percent decrease from an already pared down budget and an additional 15 percent cut for Fiscal Year 2010.  

The news came on top of a 17 percent cut of state funding—more than half-a-million dollars—to  CCC in July with the beginning of Fiscal Year ’09. Dr. Bornstein said the college has been able to find ways to make up 90 percent of the original 17 percent cut.

State aid had funded some 21 percent of the college’s $16.6-million budget.