The Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees approved their 2013-14 budget at the monthly board meeting Thursday night.
The board approved the budget after a public hearing to begin the meeting. Carter File, HCC Vice President of Finance and Operations, presented the College’s budget proposal at the hearing.
The proposal for the fiscal 2014 budget year has been influenced by a variety of factors.
For the 2013-2014 fiscal year, state revenue is forecast to be flat with a reduction in 2015 by 1.5 percent. Tuition increased by four dollars and county valuation is slated to increase by approximately 4.5 percent. Even with salary increases at approximately one percent, increased insurance costs, increased costs for technology, increased energy costs and enrollment projected to be flat, the college levy will decline fractionally this year. Over the past five years the levy has been lowered by approximately 2 mills and is lowest that it has been in the last ten years.
The board also approved architects to develop construction drawings for a weight room.
Their next meeting will be on Thursday, September 12, in the Shears Technology Center Justice Theater. The public is invited to attend.