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Technical College System asks to reinstate pilot funding, cites enrollment and workforce gains

Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education · February 12, 2026

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Summary

TCSG told the appropriations subcommittee a 9.4% formula-driven increase reflects credit-hour growth; the agency flagged elimination of $4.7M for a five-school Dual Achieve pilot and requested reinstatement to continue the program that has enrolled >4,000 and produced >700 graduates.

The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) told the appropriations subcommittee its FY27 budget is driven by credit-hour growth and workforce demand, and the agency asked the committee to consider restoring funding for a five-school Dual Achieve pilot.

Commissioner (TCSG) told the panel the system recorded more than 1,000,000 credit hours this fall and expects a 9.4% formula increase tied to credit-hour growth (the commissioner cited roughly $33,000,594 tied to enrollment growth and a square-footage supplement). He described a three-component formula (enrollment, a middle bucket for non-personnel costs, and a supplemental high-cost program bucket) and noted that tuition is modeled as a $107 constant in the formula.

The commissioner said the formula's second-component funding leaves a gap for operations: TCSG receives $4.15 per square foot in that component while their measured cost is about $12.56 per square foot. He urged the committee members to allow TCSG to supply institution-level data showing how smaller colleges are disproportionately affected by utility and M&O burdens.

A significant policy item raised was the governor's recommendation to eliminate funding for the Dual Achieve pilot (five high schools). The commissioner said the pilot has enrolled more than 4,000 students and produced over 700 graduates, and he asked the subcommittee to consider reinstating approximately $4.7 million to continue the pilots while legislative clarifications about funding splits are resolved.

The commissioner also described a modest credit-hour decline in nursing (not headcount) due to curriculum changes and said TCSG would return $225,000 for an unfilled workforce position under an MOU with the Department of Economic Development.

The presentation concluded with the commissioner asking for committee support for projects in the governor's bond package and offering to provide program-level data on high-demand placements and instructor staffing.