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College budget request to Legislature
Gov. Dave Freudenthal makes budget recommendations to state lawmakers
Statewide funding for nursing programs, a one-time equipment fund and a salary increase affect Northwest College from this year’s Wyoming Community College Commission budget request to the Wyoming Legislature.
The request for the 2007 fiscal year is only a few steps from completion, after Gov. Dave Freudenthal submitted his recommendations to the Legislature on Dec. 1. The Legislature is left to make the ultimate decision in early March said President Miles LaRowe. He guessed that it would be around March 10.
Several new requests have been submitted to this year’s budget.
The WCCC has asked for more than $1 million for a Wyoming investment in nursing. The investment will fund a statewide enhancement to expand the nursing programs in the six community colleges that have nursing programs, including Northwest. This money will help fund student loans and more instructors. LaRowe said that by adding instructors they could have more students entering the program. He also said that NWC plans to use the money to do more with the NWC Worland Center.
Not only will it help the Worland program but also aid the licensed practical nursing program starting in Basin. So far the plan for Basin has gone before the curriculum board and will hopefully be started in January of 2007, according to Karen Harrison, instructor of nursing. LaRowe said that this would help get more nurses in Wyoming.
Another new request is $14 million for a one-time fund for instructional equipment. This amount will be divided amongst the seven Wyoming community colleges based on enrollment, which means about $1.8 would come to NWC if approved. This will pay for new lab equipment and other equipment needed for instruction.
The request for the capital construction is still on list even though Freudenthal recommended that is should not pass. The total amount being asked for is about $47.5 million that would go to the five community colleges that had plans submitted to the WCCC. NWC and Casper College did not submit requests for building money. LaRowe said, “NWC has enough irons in the fire” in regards to the now-completed demolition of Bridger Hall and the construction of Simpson Hall. Simpson Hall is mainly being funded by the insurance settlement from Bridger Hall. The colleges that did ask for state funding to help build onto their campuses have to match a portion of the state funding, said LaRowe.
The rest of the funding that is to be dispersed comes from the WCCC’s funding formula. This divides the state funding for the community colleges based on statistical data that helps determine how much each school will receive.
The formula itself has changed this year as it does almost every year, said LaRowe. One of the changes is the weight of enrollment the formula will use a two-year average.
Another change is the addition of a external cost adjustment that was suggested to LaRowe by Professor Steve Thulin. Thulin said that the cost adjustment is just a fancy way of saying inflation factor. This will allow for adequate funding in all areas where inflation has caused a raise in costs.
The formula still needs continuous work so that it is fair and balanced, said LaRowe. The college presidents meet in the summer and make changes to the formula with the help of a consultant.