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Ulster County committee hears college budget showing enrollment gains and tighter fund balance
Summary
Presenters told the Ways and Means Committee the college budget forecasts 1,667 FTEs, a tuition increase, and a projected fund‑balance draw of about $481,000; members pressed for clarity on utilities and county support.
The Ulster County Ways and Means Committee on May 15 heard a presentation on the college’s proposed operating budget for next year, which projects enrollment growth and a narrowing fund balance.
Michael, the college presenter, told the committee the budget assumes 1,667 full‑time equivalent students, up from 1,547 last year. "We're budgeting 1,667 FTEES," he said, citing recent fall‑to‑fall growth that he described as “very good.” The presentation showed personnel costs account for about 78% of the budget and that 13 new positions are planned, including five faculty hires for business, English, nursing, IT/networking and psychology.
The college plans a tuition increase that Michael described as roughly $164 per semester for full‑time students and small per‑credit increases for part‑time students; projected tuition revenue for the coming year was estimated at about $8.7 million, up from $7.8 million last year. Michael also warned utilities can be a major cost driver: he said every penny of utility rate increase raises college expenses by about $40,000.
The presenters outlined several revenue assumptions: a $28 per‑credit Ustack textbook fee (with $25 going to the bookstore vendor and $3 retained by the college), a conservative projection for a new federally funded SNAP‑ENT pilot, and $1 million budgeted for charges billed to other counties. They said an unnamed state appropriation for community colleges had been enacted but details on eligibility and implementation were not yet clear and could alter the budget.
On fund balance, presenters said the drawn amount in the proposed budget is $481,000; current projections showed a likely year‑end deficit near $243,000 compared with earlier projections. After subtracting a two‑and‑a‑half‑month “rainy day” reserve, the college’s available fund balance for appropriation was shown to be just over $1 million.
Committee members pressed staff on specific line items. One member asked whether predicted utility increases (for example, Central Hudson/Edison changes) were built into the budget; the presenter confirmed utility cost increases were included and noted the college participates in a community solar project that offsets some costs. Members also sought historical county funding figures and discussed whether county support would remain flat; presenters said county support was being kept flat because of countywide fiscal uncertainties, and that the college board would ratify changes as additional clarity arrived.
The committee did not take a final vote on the college budget at the meeting; presenters said the committee would vote on a resolution in May or June and that the board of directors would consider the board‑level ratification afterward.
