Bladen Community College asks commissioners for 5.8% operating increase, outlines 10-year capital plan

Bladen Community College President Dr. Amanda Lee and CFO Roy Thompson presented the collegebudget request and a newly completed facility master plan to the Bladen County Board of Commissioners at the board's March meeting.

The college asked the county to consider a 5.8% increase in operating support for the coming fiscal year and outlined a capital request derived from a 10-year facility assessment approved by the college's Board of Trustees. "This spring, the Board, the President and I worked to craft a budget request that reflected the fiscal needs of the college both in general expense, operation and capital facilities," Thompson said.

Why it matters: county funding and textbook support for dually enrolled high school students affect local college access, workforce training and the college's ability to maintain facilities required for accreditation.

Key points from the presentation: - Operating request: 5.8% increase over the prior year; the college said it is pursuing efficiencies while needing increases in some areas. - Capital plan: projects identified in the facility master plan include HVAC and ADA work at Booker T. Washington, safety access improvements in Building 17 (the early college), and scheduled replacement of R-22 HVAC units as required by regulation. The master plan is used to prioritize capital needs over 10 years and is an accreditation requirement, Thompson said. - Staffing and security: the college said it currently has three full-time facilities staff responsible for the entire campus and requested additional facilities and security coverage, including expanded security for Booker T. Washington. - Compensation: the operating request includes a proposed 3% salary increase for locally paid employees, aligned with an anticipated 3% state salary increase, the college said. - Dual enrollment support: county funding for Career and College Promise (CCP) students now includes textbook expenses for East Bladen and West Bladen high school students; the college requested continued county support to keep dually enrolled students' costs low. - Grants and risk: the college said it relies on federal grants such as Perkins (which currently funds 1.5 positions) and is monitoring federal funding changes; some grant applications were not awarded and the college said it is preparing contingency plans. - Workforce and partnerships: President Lee described growing enrollment and campus activity post-COVID, new workforce efforts including a culinary program and a newly hired Small Business Center Director, Terry Dennison, to support entrepreneurs at no cost.

Dr. Amanda Lee summarized campus developments in enrollment and facilities use, saying parking and student activity have increased and that the college is expanding programs at Booker T. Washington, including adult high school classes and culinary program renovations. The college also highlighted partnerships with Bladen County Schools and community organizations such as Smart Start.

The college representatives thanked county staff and trustees for prior support and asked commissioners to consider the budget request as the county proceeds with its budget process. Thompson said the college will pursue federal and grant resources to mitigate local funding needs where possible and invited follow-up questions during the county's budget deliberations.

No formal vote on the college's budget request was taken at the meeting; commissioners noted the college will present details as the county's budget process advances.

The college distributed handouts, including data from My Future NC and information on dual enrollment, career pathways and the facility master plan.