College officials predict a tough budget year - Robert S. Hong, Desert Dispatch

With the 2009-2010 fiscal year drawing to a close, officials at Barstow Community College are looking to tackle their toughest budget yet. With less money coming in from the state, rising health insurance costs, and student enrollment growing, college officials expect that they will have to dip deeply into their reserves to balance next year’s budget. No cuts in programs or staff have been decided on yet, and students will have to wait until the state budget is passed in fall before they find out if there will be any change in fees or course offerings. But one change students can expect is longer wait times for fall enrollment, since the school’s registration crew is short-staffed, school officials said.