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Tompkins Cortland Community College seeks $34.5 million operating budget and county capital match
Summary
TC3 President Amy Kman presented a $34.5 million operating budget balanced with a requested county capital allocation of $251,100 (to be matched by state funds), highlighted 5% projected enrollment growth, flat state FTE aid, and a student testimony about college supports.
Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) asked the Tompkins County Legislature on June 16 to support a $34.5 million operating budget for 2026'027 and a $251,100 county capital allocation to unlock a state match for deferred maintenance and classroom upgrades.
President Amy Kman told the Legislature the proposed operating budget is balanced and does not request additional county operating support for the coming year. The college projects roughly 5% enrollment growth and is not proposing a tuition increase for the coming year; Kman noted that state support per FTE has remained flat since 2019, limiting state-driven revenue growth.
Kman outlined capital priorities that underlie the county request: classroom standardization and technology upgrades to support hybrid instruction, a safer path to Route 13 for students, replacement or repair of skylights, elevator upgrades, and deferred maintenance. The $251,100 request represents Tompkins County's share under the state'county cost split for community-college capital projects; with the state match, county and Courtland County funds would be doubled.
Kman described other budget pressures: a projected 6.5% increase in wage expenses driven by negotiated raises and rising benefits costs (health-insurance increases noted at 14'16% over recent years). To expand grant revenue, TC3 said it is repurposing a position for grants management and onboarding a new executive director for its foundation.
Student leader Sadia Do delivered a personal testimony about beginning college at TC3 while homeless, receiving support from college staff and a campus homeless coordinator, and achieving strong grades. Her remarks illustrated the college's role in serving adult students and people in recovery.
Legislators asked about the capital request, past county capital contributions, tuition comparisons to state-operated campuses, and the college's long-term enrollment strategy. Kman and her team said the capital ask is oriented to address deferred maintenance and to make classrooms more consistent for hybrid instruction and adult learners; they indicated Courtland County had already passed a parallel capital approval and asked Tompkins County to authorize a public hearing to complete the process.
The Legislature approved on the consent agenda an authorization for a public hearing on the TC3 operating budget, moving the request forward for further review and public input.
