The Three Rivers College Board of Trustees approved a $24 million operating budget Wednesday afternoon that includes increases in salary and benefits for employees, improvements to facilities while taking into consideration a drop in enrollment.
Students will see a $4 increase to in-district tuition and a $1 increase to common fees.
“We’re far behind our projection with regard to our tuition increases,” said Dr. Wesley Payne, college president of a five-year plan previously approved by the board.
Salary for faculty and staff will be increased by 2% or $900, whichever is greater, per employee, while the budget also takes into account health insurance premiums rising 8% compared to the previous year.
“There’s not many college that were able to give raises this year,” Payne said.
The budget also finds money for improvements to the college’s facilities using both the operating budget and capital budget, according to an outline presented by Charlotte Eubank, the college’s chief financial officer. Salaries and benefits account for 56% of the budgeted expenses.
The total operating budget is $24,196,195.
It takes into account a 5% drop in enrollment, Eubank said.
“We think we’re getting close to flattening out, but not quite there yet, so we did anticipate another drop in enrollment,” Eubank said. “That’s largely going to be impacted by the high employment rate locally.”
Tuition and fees account for $10.5 million, or 44%, of the budget revenue, with the state appropriations accounting for 21% at $5.1 million.
The Capital Budget, featuring large or long-term projects for the college, is set at $2.7 million to include funding for improvements to the Crisp Industrial Technology Center, the Westover Administration and Classroom building, storage space at the Libla Family Sports Complex, as well as improvements to sidewalk lighting, landscaping and the college’s aging vehicle fleet.
Smaller projects are included in the operating budget, totaling $132,493, including signage, equipment for music and science, testing services, a practice theatre in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center and upgrades to classrooms throughout the campus. Some of the projects were approved during the previous year and a total of $494,315 will come out of reserve funds, Eubank said.
The 2020 budget is $97,903 more than the budget set last summer.
During the financial report, Eubank said, the college is “very close to meeting our revenue budget targets” and “doing very well with our budget management.”
Preliminary numbers through the end of May show revenues to be outpacing expenses by $3.4 million, but Eubank said, that number will drop.
“That’s a pretty good number,” board member Darren Garrison said. “It won’t stay that high, but it’s not going to be in half either.
“Pretty good job on your guy’s part.”
Said Eubank, “It’s certainly not going to be a deficit year.”
Revenues have been lower than expected, but expenses also have remained under budget at a greater rate.
The 2019-20 budget was approved by a unanimous vote with board member Chris Williams absent.
The entire budget will be posted at the college’s website, www.trcc.edu in the coming days, Payne said.
__PRESIDENT’S REPORT__
Payne went through a “very busy May” for the college that included a nurse pinning ceremony and the first commencement at the Libla Family Sports Complex.
“I would say that went off without very much of a hitch at all. It could not have gone better,” Payne said. “The facility worked very well. Great feedback from students and guests alike.
“A good day for the college and our community.”
Enrollment for the summer was “a little bit down from where we anticipated it to be,” Payne said.
__PERSONNEL MOVES__
The board approved the hiring of Destinie Doyle as a part-time nursing secretary for LPN in Sikeston, Elizabeth Hale as the college store coordinator and Amanda Taegtmeyer as practical nursing instructor at the Sikeston campus.
Gentry Mathias was transferred from the Welcome Center facilitator position to Student Services.
The board accepted the resignation of Candace Ellis as practical nursing coordinator-instructor in Sikeston, Tristin Reed as Student Services specialist and Terri Smith as instructor of information systems technology.
__UPCOMING EVENTS__
The last day to register for the Summer “B” Session is Thursday, June 27, with classes beginning on July 1.
The college will be closed July 4-5.
The 27th annual Children’s Theater Drama Camp will be from 9 a.m. to noon July 8-12 in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center. Cost of the camp is $75 and the deadline to register is Friday. The camp is for students entering grades 2-8 who will have a performance at 11 a.m. July 12.
The Gene Bess Basketball Camps continue July 8-12 and July 15-19.
The Dash and Splash Dexter 5K run/walk will be at 6 p.m. July 12 in East Park. Proceeds benefit the Student Success Fund at TRC-Dexter. Registration starts at 5 p.m. and costs $20.
Summer hours will end July 26.
The college will host fall convocation on Aug. 12, with the last day to register for the fall semester Aug. 16 and classes starting Aug. 19.
__NEXT MEETING__
The next TRC Board of Trustees meeting will be at noon Aug. 21 in the board room at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.