February 6, 2003

San Jacinto Community College 

The San Jacinto College District has responded to Governor Rick Perry’s request to trim seven percent from 2002-2003 state agency budgets by initiating several cost-saving measures, which are effective immediately.

Dr. Bill Lindemann, interim chancellor, announced the measures after a meeting with his executive management team. The cuts affect the part of the college’s budget funded through general revenue appropriation. San Jacinto joins other public universities who are also taking cost-cutting actions to address the state’s estimated $9.9 billion budget deficit.

“This reduction will help to balance the state budget for this fiscal year,” Lindemann said. “San Jacinto College is working with the other community colleges and universities across the state to do our part.”

Lindemann said the cuts will trim about $3 million from the college's operating budget

The measures include a hiring freeze on new or replacement positions and a case-by-case review of new requests for temporary help. The college also has issued a moratorium on all new requests for out-of-state travel, choosing only to honor travel plans for conference presenters that have already been established.

A final measure calls for vice chancellors and campus presidents to carefully evaluate all capital purchases in their area and put a “hold” on all purchases not deemed critical to the educational mission.

“We were expecting a shortfall in the state’s budget which would affect community colleges for the next biennium,” said Lindemann. “But this action from the state was unexpected for this year. We will be looking at revenue generating ideas and cost cutting measures for the 2003-2004 budget since it is projected more cuts will be instituted by the state.”

Concerning future cuts in this year’s budget, he stressed that any reduction associated with students or the learning process would be the last to be implemented.

“Our executive management team continues to place teaching and learning as our number one institutional priority. So, while the cuts being made are not what we would like to do, we feel they are the most prudent based on the current situation,” he said.

Lindemann informed the college faculty and staff of the impending cuts via e-mail correspondence, adding that he will keep the college family up-to-date as plans unfold from the state and his office. The executive management team will meet today to discuss further expense reduction scenarios for this 2002-2003 budget and possibilities concerning the upcoming 2003-2004 budget.