Balanced Budgets and Strong Reserves

By Aaron Klein

"The point of having a truly balanced budget is so that when tough economic times come, we can keep increasing access to college." -- Aaron Klein

At his first budget review as a newly elected trustee, Aaron led the fight for a balanced budget, calling on his board colleagues to establish a policy to build the college's reserves in good economic times. Through fiscal discipline and reductions in spending, the board turned a potential $1.2 million deficit into a minor surplus -- and the college has had surpluses every year since.

Since then, the new board policy has served the college well, increasing fiscal reserves, and giving us a chance to avoid cuts to core educational priorities during this economic slowdown and state budget crisis.

The Agenda for Change

Continue balancing the budget and building strong reserves, and protect funding for core academic programs, student tutoring and labs, and library hours.

Implement a long term solution to pay for unfunded retiree medical benefit promises made by past trustees.