Written 5/18/07
Story by Julie Haas

JCCC trustees approve the college’s 2007-2008 operating budget

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — At their monthly meeting May 17, the Johnson County Community College board of trustees approved the college’s 2007-2008 operating budget. The budget is $132,883,297, an increase of 3.8 percent over 2006-2007’s total of $127,965,925.

In this budget, the mill levy assessed for the college will not change for 2007-2008 but will remain the same, at 8.872 mills. Nor will the cost-per-credit-hour for students change. Johnson County residents will continue to pay $63 a credit hour this fall, Kansas residents $78 a credit hour and nonresidents $144 a credit hour.

The college anticipates a 4 percent increase in state aid in 2007-2008. Assessed valuation in the county is expected to increase by 6.2 percent.

The college’s 2007-2008 operating budget will reflect seven new full-time teaching positions needed to accommodate enrollment growth in science, automotive technology, nursing, English, health occupations and the Academic Achievement Center. Other new positions called for in the operating budget are in internal auditing services, human resources, audiovisual services, the Student Success Center, admissions, public safety, maintenance, custodial services, and information services.

Operating costs will again be limited to an increase of 2 percent, except in areas where greater increases could not be controlled, such as utilities and insurance. Capital expenses reflect computer purchases and remodeling costs for spaces vacated by faculty and staff moving to the new Regnier Center and the Nerman Museum.

JCCC staff and faculty have been working on the college’s 2007-2008 budget since November 2006 when the board approved its initial set of guidelines.

The college’s legal budget will be approved by the board and filed with the county in August.

The next meeting of the JCCC board of trustees is at 5 p.m. June 21 in the Hugh Speer board room, 137 GEB. Board of trustee meetings are open to the public.