Negotiations
$19 Million
in
Ending
Fund
Balance
Sinking?
The California State Budget is lean, and the Community College system has taken a big hit, but Palomar College is fat. In October 2008, when the budget crisis began, we were told at the Budget Committee and Strategic Planning Council meetings that we were in for some tough times ahead. We were given a budget spreadsheet that showed that the Fund 11 unrestricted ending fund balance was projected to be $5,138,729, which would barely cover the 5% required reserve. The district instituted a modified hiring freeze, and we were all asked to be very conservative about our spending. President Deegan told us that we would be okay for the 2008-2009 school year, that it would be tight for the next year, and that all bets were off for the following year. Of course, being reasonable people, we did what we could to help the situation. The PFF deferred payment of a negotiated pay increase, faculty put our handouts on Blackboard when possible, and many of us bought our own classroom supplies.
In Fall 2009, it was revealed that the ending fund balance for Fund 11 was actually closer to $10 million dollars ($9,890,785). We were applauded for having "saved" all of that money and told that we need it. Again, President Deegan informed the college community that we would be okay in the 2009-2010 school year, that it would be tight for the next year, and that all bets were off for the following year. The modified hiring freeze continued, our supply budgets were further cut, and class sections were cut, causing many part-time teachers to lose classes.
Last fall, when the budget numbers came out, despite the District's dire warnings, the ending fund balance for fiscal year 2009-2010 actually grew to $11,443, 796. This is good, we were told, because we were going to need it. Again we were informed that we would be okay in the 2010-2011 school year, that it would be tight for the next year, and that all bets were off for the following year. This time the cuts became much more drastic, including a summer session half the size of the previous year's and more class cuts scheduled for Fall 2011 and Spring 2012. What these cuts have resulted in, according to Vice President Dowd at the 7/12/2011 Governing Board meeting, is an ending fund balance for 2010-2011 of nearly $19 million dollars. That is nearly 20% of the operating budget being held as reserves.
It is important to remember what these "savings" have cost the college community. These "savings" have cost our students educational opportunities because they have not been able to get into the classes they need to transfer. These "savings" have cost many of our part-time teachers their livelihood. More than $2 million of the savings came from slashing the summer session alone. These "savings" have cost us all in terms of increased workloads. According to the California Community College Chancellor's Office Data Mart, from 2008- 2009 to 2009-2010, Palomar College's FTES grew 1.5%, whereas the headcount for full-time faculty fell 5.2%, and the headcount for part-time faculty fell by 4%. These "savings" have cost the future of Palomar College each time we have missed the opportunity to hire the number of qualified faculty and staff required to serve our students in the ways we could have been serving them all along.
When you are told how bad the situation is this fall and how lean the budget is, remember the fat cushion the District is sitting on -- and remember that we are swimming in black ink.
Negotiations Corner
The PFF contract with the District expired on June 30, 2011. We will begin negotiating a successor agreement this fall. In the meantime the faculty is protected by the previous contract. The PFF, in consultation with the Negotiation Advisory Council, sunshined the following at the March 8th board meeting:
"The Palomar Faculty Federation (PFF) intends to negotiate a complete successor agreement with the Palomar Community College District to our current collectively bargained agreement. Please accept this partial list to satisfy California Government Code 3547, Public Presentation of Proposals, for the purpose of beginning negotiations:"
- Ground Rules for Bargaining
- Article 9 - Leaves
- Article 12 - Department Chairs/Directors
- Article 14 - Grievance Procedure
- Article 15 - Compensation
- Article 17 - Evaluation Procedure
- Article 27 - Child Development Center Teachers
- Appendix B - Workload Schedule
- Appendix F - Extra Duty Stipend/Reassignment Salary Schedule
The District clearly signaled its intention to attack our benefits and workload at the April 12, 2011 Governing Board meeting with the following (emphasis added):
"The District proposes to negotiate a successor agreement that takes into account current economic difficulties, recognizes the overall cost of employees' total compensation to the District, aids the District in conserving resources for an uncertain future, and preserves jobs. The District proposes online course maximum enrollment that is equitable with in-person course maximum enrollment. The District proposes negotiating the Articles listed below, and reserves the right to open other articles which may assist in maintaining the District's fiscal viability."
- Article 1 - Agreement
- Article 8 - Course Maximums
- Article 9 - Leaves
- Article 15 - Compensation
- Article 16 - Benefits
- Article 17 - Evaluations
- Article 27 - Child Development Center Teachers
- Appendix B - Workload Schedule
- Appendix F - Extra Duty Stipend Salary Schedule
- Appendix G - Salary Schedules
- Appendix J - Retiree Benefits Schedule
- Appendix K - Evaluation Forms and Reports
Please consider being part of the Negotiations Advisory Council. We meet one time a month (the second Wednesday of the month from 3-4 p.m.) We need two volunteers from each department, preferably one full- and one part- time instructor. This way we have input from across the campus. Look for an email with more information in the next couple of weeks.
teresaLaughlin
PFF Bargaining Chair
