A joint meeting of the Orange County Legislature’s Ways & Means and Economic & Environmental committees approved an additional $1.3 million in county support for SUNY Orange’s 2025–26 budget after hearing a county financial review that projected operating shortfalls and declining fund balance.

The committees heard a detailed budget presentation from Connor Davies, who reviewed the college’s proposed $69,240,000 budget and the county reviewer’s projections for fiscal years 2024–25 and 2025–26. “The total budget for you is 69,240,000.00,” Davies said as he walked through revenue and expense variances.

Why it matters: committee members said they wanted to avoid leaving the college with an unacceptably low fund balance while also pressing the institution to increase enrollment and adjust fees where appropriate. The college’s financial picture depends on tuition, state aid formula outcomes and federal grant timing; the reviewers projected a drawdown of fund balance in the near term unless enrollment and revenues rise.

Most important facts: the county reviewer reported tuition up about $1.8 million year over year and full‑time tuition per student at roughly $5,098. Personnel costs were driving most of the expense increase—about $1.3 million—while contractual services and bad‑debt expense were also higher. For 2024–25 the reviewer projected the college would use about $1.9 million of fund balance; for 2025–26 the projected additional shortfall was about $901,000 to $1.4 million depending on assumptions. The college’s proposed county contribution for 2025–26 is $23,152,556.

Discussion vs. decisions: committee members repeatedly framed options rather than issuing directives. Lawmakers pressed college officials and reviewers on enrollment projections, the effect of raising tuition or fees on student access, and how much of prior federal grant support would continue. Dr. Takler, identified in the meeting as a provost-level college official, described how a competitive federal grant the college received from the U.S. Department of Education (a Title III award for a Hispanic‑Serving Institution) supported student retention work and said the college is preparing grant applications to pursue continued funding.

Formal action: legislators moved and seconded a motion to accept the college budget as presented with an additional county contribution of $1.3 million; the motion passed on roll call for the Ways & Means portion of the joint meeting.

What lawmakers asked staff to do: several legislators said they wanted the college to continue a fee study and report back on program‑level fees (for example, nursing program fees) and to present enrollment‑growth plans tied to workforce programs. Committee members also noted the college could return during the budget year with a supplemental request if actual shortfalls materialize.

Context and next steps: reviewers emphasized the college has a multi‑year target to increase enrollment and that state aid is driven by enrollment formulas; several legislators said retention and outreach—encouraging students to complete FAFSA and to enroll in full‑time credit hours—would directly affect state reimbursements. The committees approved the additional county contribution but signaled they expect the college to continue pursuing fee changes and grants and to report enrollment progress to the legislature.

Ending note: committee leaders and college officials agreed to monitor results through the fiscal year and said the college can request supplemental funding if the projected $900,000–$1.9 million shortfall materializes.