The Skyline College Strategic Planning and Allocation of Resources Committee (SPARC) met on Thursday, January 28, 2016.
The committee received an update on the Governor’s budget, reviewed budget scenarios for the fiscal year 2016-7 (FY1617), and discussed the multi-year Planning and Resource Allocation process.
Vice President of Administrative Services Eloisa Briones noted that the Governor’s 2016-2017 budget proposal released earlier in January still provides additional funding for Community Colleges, but the increases are not as significant as they were for the current fiscal year 2015-16. The revenues used in the proposed budget were calculated before the Dow Jones dropped about 1800 points. Since the top taxpayers in the state derive most of their income from capital gains, we may see a significant reduction in projected state revenues at the May Revise. The top 1% of the taxpayers generate half of the personal income taxes which accounts for about a third of the state’s General Fund revenues.
VP Briones led the discussion of budget scenarios for FY1617. Executive Vice Chancellor Kathy Blackwood provided a budget simulation for next year built on varying assumptions for changes in property tax rates, total compensation, inflation and the Innovation Fund, depicting Best Case, Middle Case and Worst Case projections of district revenues and expenditures. Under these assumptions, Skyline College’s site allocation varies by about $350,000. Eloisa showed scenarios of expenditures assuming the same FTES goal and varying levels of load, compared to the simulated site allocations from the district. President Stanback-Stroud reiterated the college’s commitment to maintain access and effective teaching and support services to help students succeed. The Committee reviewed the various scenarios and considered the Middle Case ($38.6 million) and Worst Case ($38.8 million) Scenario allocations and projected expenditures of $37.5 million based on an FTES goal of 7,823 and load goal of 570. The increase in allocation ranging from $1.0 to $1.2 million will allow funding for new faculty, classified staff, and administrators. After discussion, the Committee recommended a tentative balanced budget that includes funding for new positions: 5 Full Time Faculty, 2 Classified, and 1.5 Administration. The President acknowledged the recommendation and noted that the state budget discussions are underway. We will keep SPARC apprised of any changes to the state and district budget through the May Revise and the approval of final state budget.
Dean of Planning, Research and Institutional Effectiveness (PRIE), Aaron McVean, presented a revised Planning and Resource Allocation model that outlines the multi year integrated process between the regular planning processes of the college and resource allocation. Planning processes included Annual Program Plans (APPS), Comprehensive Program Reviews (CPRs), and Administrative Leadership Unit Reviews (ALURs), which are guided by the Mission-Vision-Values, Strategic Plan, and Strategic Priorities of Skyline College. Resource allocation encompasses staffing allocations and prioritization, budget development and implementation, and technology and instructional equipment funding, as well as any one time funding allocations. Next steps include presentation of the model to other campus committees and then another discussion with the SPARC committee to recommend adoption of a finalized model.
Next meeting is scheduled for February 11, 2016 at 2:10 pm in Room 6-203.
