Legislators Must End Funding Delay for Community Colleges

NOTE: The following is an op-ed related to the state funding impasse and signed by members of the Butler County Community College board of trustees and the BC3 Education Foundation board of directors as provided by BC3 in e-mail.

Nearly six months into the fiscal year, Butler County Community College and Pennsylvania’s 14 other community colleges have yet to receive operating funds authorized in the state’s FY 2023-24 budget. In fact, community colleges are the only public higher education institutions in Pennsylvania still awaiting state payments.

The state budget included a two percent operating fund increase for the community colleges, but legislation has not been passed by the General Assembly authorizing the funds to be released.

This has needlessly put our institution and the state’s other community colleges in a precarious position, forcing detrimental measures to be taken to prevent employees and students from being impacted.

At Butler County Community College, we have had to arrange temporary access to at least $3 million dollars since cash levels have dropped to dangerously low levels as a result of the current budget impasse. The College will need to start to draw down on these funds in December unless the State budget situation is resolved. The cost of accessing these funds will be approximately $25,000 per month. The College will also incur additional costs in legal fees to secure this temporary financing, estimated in the range of $3,000-$4,000. Finally, the College has lost approximately $40,000 in interest income in fiscal year 2023-24 since the College’s bank deposits are lower compared to historical averages.

Interest expenses and unrealized investment income may very well exceed the increase allocated in the state budget as early as this spring. In other words, the delay in state payments is translating into a net funding cut.

Collectively, Pennsylvania’s community colleges are the largest provider of public postsecondary education and workforce training in the Commonwealth. At over 80 campus locations and sites across the state, the colleges educate over 230,000 students across all 67 counties. Butler County Community College serves eight counties in western Pennsylvania at six locations and serves approximately 20,000 credit and noncredit students.

The students served by Pennsylvania’s community colleges come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Across the state, 42 percent of community college students are from minority or other underrepresented populations. The colleges serve more first-generation students and low-income students than any other sector of higher education.

Seventy-five percent of the community colleges’ programs align with High Priority Occupations in fields such as healthcare, manufacturing, public safety and cybersecurity. In fact, the colleges award 3 out of every 4 associate degrees in nursing in the state. The colleges also partner with over 2,100 Pennsylvania employers to address workforce needs and provide contracted training to over 87,000 workers annually.

Making this essential postsecondary education and workforce training possible for Pennsylvania is over 17,600 hardworking individuals who are employed by Pennsylvania’s community colleges, approximately 873 of whom work at Butler County Community College.

It is critical that the General Assembly pass legislation authorizing release of state funds to Butler County Community College and the other state-funded community colleges without further delay. Our students, employer partners and employees are counting on it.

Butler County Community College Board of Trustees