Schenectady County Legislature calls public hearing on SUNY Schenectady operating budget; college previews $25.86M plan

The Schenectady County Legislature on June 30 approved a resolution calling a public hearing for the adoption of the SUNY Schenectady Community College operating budget for Sept. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2026, and county and college officials outlined the proposed budget in an education committee presentation the same evening.

The resolution (98-25) passed on a roll call of 12 in favor, with 2 members absent and 1 excused. The clerk recorded that the budget hearing will be held Tuesday, July 8 at 7 p.m. in the Legislative Chamber.

The proposed operating budget totals $25,861,000, a $2.2 million decrease from the adopted 2024–25 budget, college representatives told the legislature. "This budget was reviewed by the board of trustees of the community college," Patrick Ryan, a representative of SUNY Schenectady, told the committee. "This was a difficult budget to work on, because of some various factors I'm gonna go through. But we think this is a great budget."

College officials said the proposal includes a placeholder 2.25% across‑the‑board salary increase pending union negotiations and assumes conservative enrollment growth of roughly 50 full-time equivalent (FTE) students for 2025–26, producing a projected 1,799 FTE. Officials said fall data show an uptick of about 50–60 FTE compared with the prior year. Ryan said college‑in‑the‑high‑school enrollments are projected to increase by about 200 head count after losing roughly 400 this year largely tied to out‑of‑county district and teacher‑credential issues.

Why it matters: the college said flat state support, inflationary pressures and prior declines in enrollment are constraining revenues, and the budget attempts to align expenditures with conservative enrollment assumptions while restoring reserves.

Key budget items and assumptions outlined by the college: - Total proposed operating budget: $25,861,000 (down $2.2M from 2024–25). - Enrollment assumption: +50 FTE for a projected 1,799 FTE in 2025–26. - Placeholder salary model: 2.25% across labor units (negotiations ongoing). - Tuition and fees: proposed 5.9% tuition increase per credit (an increase of $13 per credit) to $220 per credit for part‑time students; full‑time tuition per semester projected at $2,640. Technology fee proposed at $36/credit; transportation fee proposed at $14/credit. - Bad debt allowance: $600,000 (about 7.5% of tuition and fees) reflecting pandemic‑era unpaid accounts now being written off. - Use of fund balance: projected at $0 for 2025–26; college plans to rebuild reserves through attrition savings (estimated salary savings about $1.2M this year). - Staffing and cost reductions: 14 positions eliminated through attrition/realignment; non‑personnel costs reduced by about $551,000; no new budgeted positions. - Revenue mix (projected): ~$8.0M tuition, ~$2.5M student fees, ~$11.0M government support (including state aid), $3.1M sponsoring county contribution, ~$1.0M other revenues (including ~$650,000 from the college foundation). Chargebacks from other counties estimated at ~$2.8M; about 45% of students are out‑of‑county, the college said.

Schenectady County's higher education "Promise" program was a central feature: county funding invested $1.5 million in 2024–25, and college officials described a two‑year pilot for 2025–26 that they said would include a $1.0 million pool to fund up to six credits of tuition and fees per year for eligible county residents and $500,000 to offset advising and student support services. College presenters said the program applied tuition support after other financial aid is exhausted and reported scholarship awards tied to the program since late August of the initial year. The college said 54% of Promise recipients received the full award and that top enrollment programs among Promise students include health study certificates, business administration, culinary arts and teacher education.

Legislators asked about the drivers of the modest projected enrollment increase and about fund‑balance targets. "It seems to be across the board," Ryan said of the modest uptick in enrollments and noted greater visibility and targeted outreach for the Promise program. On reserves, Ryan told the committee that "around 8% is where we need to be; 10% would be good" and that the Middle States accreditor is asking questions about institutional reserve levels.

The college said state aid for 2025–26 will remain at either the funding floor established in 2022–23 or $3,096 per funded FTE, and that SUNY Schenectady's base operating aid will remain $7,702,000 with $78,000 in enrollment aid and approximately $415,000 in restricted program aid. The college projects a small reduction in rental aid (about $18,000) because it no longer rents space for a brewing program at another location.

What's next: The Legislature's special meeting resolution sets a public hearing for July 8 at 7 p.m. in the Legislative Chamber. The college and the county will continue negotiations on labor contracts and finalize budget figures before formal adoption.

Speakers quoted or paraphrased in this article are identified by name and role as they appear in the meeting record.