The NWTC Board of Trustees has cleared the college’s proposed budget for public hearing.
In the proposed budget for fiscal year 2009-2010, the total levy would increase 3.3 percent, largely to provide more class sections in response to increased demand from dislocated workers. Property owners would pay an extra $5, or a total of $153, on a $100,000 home.
Among the anticipated cuts and cost savings:
- Three positions will be eliminated and two part-time instructional positions will go unfilled. Four other positions will be reduced or redefined based on market need. (These people have all been notified.)
- Starting in January 2009, all non-unit professionals moved to a high deductible savings account and increased the employee share of health care premiums.
- Numerous wellness initiatives are underway to assist in reducing health care cost.
- Energy improvements at the College have resulted in a cost-savings of $229,800 or a 12.7% reduction in utilities.
New investments in program development and growth include: a new Utilities Engineering Technology degree to supply workers for the growing utility market as well as the emerging renewable and sustainable energy industry, a gerontology instructor to provide training to serve the growing needs of the elderly population, a micro-business instructor, and additional funding for the upcoming Higher Learning Commission reaccreditation process.
NWTC has seen steady increases in enrollments in recent years. Last year, NWTC served 6,504 full-time equivalent students (FTEs) and over 42,000 learners. This year is expected to reach 6,575 FTEs. The new budget allows for another 2% increase to 6,707 FTEs. In the past 11 years, NWTC has seen 64 percent growth in FTEs.
Dr. H. Jeffrey Rafn, NWTC president noted, “Maintaining the supply of skilled employees is critical to the area's economic stability and growth, and the new budget strikes a responsible balance. Due to the increased demand to retrain dislocated workers and provide skilled workers in emerging markets, NWTC will continue to meet the needs of our communities while maintaining cost containment measures."
NWTC remains one of the most efficient technical colleges in Wisconsin, with the second-lowest operational cost per FTE in the system.
The next step for the budget is a public hearing set for May 13, 2009, at 4:00 p.m. in the District Office on the NWTC-Green Bay Campus, 2740 W. Mason Street.