Lower Columbia College’s Board of Trustees approved the $21 million operating budget for 2011-12 on Wednesday, relying on staff cuts and "excess" tuition revenue to make up for a $1.9 million drop in state funding. College officials warned, though, that the budget is not sustainable over the long haul and it will be necessary to continue gradually replacing full-time, tenured faculty with less expensive part-timers. "This has been probably one of the most difficult budgets we’ve had to piece together in the time I have been here," said LCC President Jim McLaughlin.
The college will eliminate 14 faculty and staff positions, bringing the number of jobs cut in the past three years to 39 — a reduction of about 10 percent. All 14 positions are vacant jobs that will not be filled. The cuts saved the college about $547,000.
