Oregon Community Colleges are not happy with Governor Ted Kulongoski's proposed budget, despite his statement that he wants to continue "to improve our education system from pre-school to graduate school."

According to a statement from the Oregon Community College Association, his budget recommends an actual decrease of $15 million in the community college support fund, from the current $500 million to $485 million.

"I'm having a strong sense of déjà vu," said Oregon Community College Association Executive Director Andrea Henderson. "In 2003 when Oregon's economy tanked and our citizens were out of work, cuts to community college funding forced reduced access to job training programs across the state. While in his speech the Governor sounded like he wanted to avoid that scenario, his budget actually reduces the colleges in real dollars - not just current service level funding."

"We are not unaware of the international, federal and state financial crises," said Linn-Benton Community College President Rita Cavin. "But it is hard to hear our governor's message of support for education and putting Oregonians to work as his first and then to see a proposed budget that may require LBCC to cut $2.9M in jobs, programs and services to students in the next biennium."

Adding to the problem, declining property tax revenues mean that the only place colleges can turn to avoid deep service cuts is tuition.

"Raising tuition just slams the door in the face of a laid-off worker," Henderson said. "Even with available financial aid, the numbers don't work without a state investment in the community college support fund."

Enrollments have grown by double digits at many colleges across the state this year. Typically demand increases throughout a recession as more companies lay off workers. With real cuts to community colleges, the gap between demand and funding will widen.

Community colleges offer many short-term programs, many under a year, in areas where employers are hiring, often before students finish their programs. These programs, which include training for jobs in health care, renewable energy and manufacturing, are in jeopardy under this budget. In the state's most recent economic forecast, health care and manufacturing were reported as two of the only industries growing in this bad economy.

Cavin sent a letter to local state senators and representatives explaining the impact of reduced funding on the school.

• This year LBCC will receive nearly $500,000 less than budgeted.

• In FY 2009, the school will receive $19.5 million and in FY 2010 $20 million. Both amounts are less than LBCC received in FY 2007, despite projected enrollment growth of 10 percent.

• LBCC will re-evaluate future tuition increases. School officials had expected to budget for a $5 per unit rise. To make up the entire cut by increasing tuition, a rise of at least $20 a credit hour will be needed.

Cavin said LBCC has 463 full-time contracted staff, up from a low of 443 in 2006, and a high number of part-time staff. Cutting back on staff will affect course offerings.

" I understand that many in our community are losing their jobs - at LBCC we are not insensitive to that reality," she said. "But Linn-Benton Community College is key to retraining citizens in our community and preparing them for new jobs. We are key to providing the middle-skilled workforce that attracts employers to Oregon. This is not the time to require community colleges to reduce staff. They must have crisis-level staffing to meet the jobs crisis in our communities.

Instead of planning for improvements in student access and retention, distance learning, green programs and partnerships with health and manufacturing sectors, as well as holding down student costs, budget cuts will cause school officials to reconsider what it can provide to students and the community, she said.