Nearly six months into the fiscal year, Butler County Community College and Pennsylvania’s 14 other community colleges have yet to receive operating funds authorized in the state’s fiscal year 2023-24 budget. In fact, community colleges are the only public higher education institutions in Pennsylvania still awaiting state payments.

The state budget included a 2% operating fund increase for the community colleges, but legislation has not been passed by the General Assembly authorizing the funds to be released.

This has needlessly put our institution and the state’s other community colleges in a precarious position, forcing detrimental measures to be taken to prevent employees and students from being impacted.

At Butler County Community College, we have had to arrange temporary access to at least $3 million since cash levels have dropped to dangerously low levels as a result of the current budget impasse. The college will need to start to draw down on these funds in December unless the state budget situation is resolved.

The cost of accessing these funds will be about $25,000 per month. The college also will incur additional costs in legal fees to secure this temporary financing, estimated in the range of $3,000 to $4,000. Finally, the college has lost about $40,000 in interest income in fiscal year 2023-24 since the college’s bank deposits are lower compared to historical averages.

Interest expenses and unrealized investment income may very well exceed the increase allocated in the state budget as early as this spring. In other words, the delay in state payments is translating into a net funding cut.

Collectively, Pennsylvania’s community colleges are the largest provider of public postsecondary education and workforce training in the commonwealth. At over 80 campus locations and sites across the state, the colleges educate over 230,000 students across all 67 counties. Butler County Community College serves eight counties in Western Pennsylvania at six locations and serves about 20,000 credit and noncredit students.

The students served by Pennsylvania’s community colleges come from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Across the state, 42% of community college students are from minority or other underrepresented populations. The colleges serve more first-generation students and low-income students than any other sector of higher education.

Seventy-five percent of the community colleges’ programs align with high priority occupations in fields such as health care, manufacturing, public safety and cybersecurity. In fact, the colleges award three out of every four associate degrees in nursing in the state. The colleges also partner with over 2,100 Pennsylvania employers to address workforce needs and provide contracted training to over 87,000 workers annually.

Making this essential postsecondary education and workforce training possible for Pennsylvania is over 17,600 hardworking individuals who are employed by Pennsylvania’s community colleges, about 873 of whom work at Butler County Community College.

It is critical that the General Assembly pass legislation authorizing release of state funds to Butler County Community College and the other state-funded community colleges without further delay. Our students, employer partners and employees are counting on it.

Butler County Community College Board of Trustees: Joseph E. Kubit, chair; Glenn T. Miller, secretary; Scott A. McDowell, treasurer; Kenneth DeFurio; William A. DiCuccio, M.D.; Kimberly D. Geyer, ex officio; Vicki Hinterberger; Robi Lombardo; Gordon L. Marburger; Brian K. McCafferty; Gail A. Paserba; Jennifer R. Pullar, Esq.; Bruce Russell, Ph.D.; Carmine A. Scotece; Joe Taylor; and Nadine Tripodi

BC3 Education Foundation Board of Directors: Tony Shakely, chair; Nancy Hunter Mycka, vice chair; Jay Shaffer, secretary; Gary Rauschenberger, treasurer; Carol Achezinski; Bill Bellis; Cathy Bronder; Kelly Giles; Jeannie Gilkey; Cathy Glasgow; Vicki Hinterberger, ex officio; Robert Hovanec; David C. Huseman; Chris Lunn; Matthew Reitler; and James A. Taylor, Esq.