Michelle Christenson/Caller-Times file Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s top priority is for state funding to keep up with campus expansion and more students. University President Robert Furgason said he expects 2,000 to 3,000 more students by 2008.

Budget deficit may leave local universities struggling for funds

With enrollment rising, schools fear a cut in state money

February 1, 2003
By Jaime Powell
Caller-Times

Because of the state’s large budget deficit, education funding has been one of the most challenging and divisive issues facing state legislators this session - and that worries local educators and lawmakers. When all the bills are signed, they don’t want the growing colleges and universities in the area to be left out in the cold. "Education is the most critical issue we have," said state Rep. Gene Seaman, R-Corpus Christi. "If we do not educate our people, how can we grow our economy? One does not happen without the other." Universities are funded by a state appropriation. The state is supposed to supply 100 percent of instructional and administrative costs for community colleges, while tuition, fees and ad valorem taxes pay for facilities and maintenance costs.

For Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, the top priority is for state funding to keep up with the growth of the student population and the campus. "The first thing we want to do is make sure that the Legislature does not start cutting our budget," university President Robert Furgason said. "Certainly we want the growth funded. We also need more classrooms in place by 2008 for growth that will occur by then. I expect 2,000 to 3,000 more students by then than we have now." Fall 2002 enrollment was 7,684. New programs

At Texas A&M University-Kingsville there are several major funding issues at stake this legislative session. President Rumaldo Juarez said getting the university’s pharmacy school off the ground and the start-up costs for several doctoral programs are at the top of the list. In addition, Juarez said the university is working to locate a campus in south San Antonio. "The long-range plan is that it will become Texas A&M at San Antonio. For the time being it is under the auspices of Kingsville." Juarez said there is also a larger issue at stake involving all of the universities and community colleges in the state. He said possible funding cuts threaten a higher education plan drafted in 1999 called "Closing the Gaps." The plan calls for a statewide enrollment of 1.5 million students by 2015 and sets goals for increases in research funding, graduation rates and the quality of institutions and degree programs. The campaign is also designed to increase the enrollment of minority and poor students. "A disruption in funding will mean a disruption to activities that are already under way with that program," Juarez said. "A funding cut will mean putting it on hold or taking a major step backward." Rep. Vilma Luna, D-Corpus Christi, said it is going to be a tough budget cycle across the board. "My hope is that we can hold the line," she said. "We may have to be creative, but we can attempt to continue with the extra support we have gotten in this area to sustain the growth we have seen."

Luna said local legislators will have to keep a close eye on proposed formula funding changes that could be detrimental to area schools.

‘Funding formulas’
For Del Mar College and Coastal Bend College, the most critical issue is making sure that formula funding from the state remains static or is increased.

Former Rep. Judy Hawley of Portland, now San Patricio County Economic Development Corp. director, said local community colleges need more money, not less. "Like public education financing, community college financing is also broken," she said. "Funding formulas at the state level are not sufficient to provide the needed funding as it is."

Though enrollment has increased by 16 percent over the past 10 years, community colleges are seeing their facility and maintenance funds being funneled into instruction. State funding has fallen to 66 percent this year, from highs in the mid-90s in the mid-1980s.

"We have all kinds of deferred maintenance. The money that is supposed to go to maintenance is going to instruction," Del Mar College Dean of Business Dr. Ann Matula said.

‘Competing interests’
Coastal Bend College President John Brockman said that to keep services at the status quo, the state will have to come up with at least $200 million in additional funding.

Brockman said that he fears cuts. "There are a lot of competing interests, and they all make compelling arguments. The population is growing. If the budget does not grow, something has to be cut." If the state does not come through with funding for community colleges, Brockman said the alternatives are to raise tuition and fees on students, raise the local tax rate or cut back on services.

"It will probably be a combination of all three of those things that we would have to do," he said.

Contact Jaime Powell at 886-3716 or powellj@caller.com