PORT ANGELES – The Peninsula College Board of Trustees will delay passing the 2011-2012 college budget until October because the state has yet to finalize funding for higher education.
In other years, the board has approved a budget for the upcoming year by June 30.
The college has a “skeleton budget” that needs to be fleshed out once a state commission makes a final decision on the distribution of college funding statewide, Peninsula College President Tom Keegan said Tuesday.
The tentative budget is based on state estimates, which the board reviewed in May, he said.
The board passed a resolution to delegate authority to Keegan to continue paying the college’s expenses based on preliminary numbers.
The college is expected to lose 1.7 million in state funding over the next two years.
In March, the board approved the elimination of 17 full-time and four part-time positions and decided the college will increase tuition 12 percent for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years.
Keegan said he does not anticipate additional layoffs or cuts for the coming year, he said.
Although the state Legislature has passed a budget, the amount for each college will depend on the final distribution from the state Higher Education Coordinating Board.
Delays have prevented the college board from completing the budget process before the June 30 end of the 2010-2011 school year.
“We’ll complete the budget over the summer, then come back in October to approve the final form,” Keegan said.
The board also selected a new chair and vice chair for the 2011-2012 school year.
Current Vice Chairwoman Julie McCulloch will become the board’s chair in July.
McCulloch, who was appointed in 2007, is the owner of Elevated Ice Cream in Port Townsend.
Mike Glenn was selected to be the new vice chairman.
Glenn, appointed in 2009, is the chief executive officer of Jefferson Healthcare hospital in Port Townsend.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
