BUTLER TWP - Sometimes silence isn't golden, especially where financial crises are involved.

That's the word from Butler County Community College dean of finance Lynn Burtner, who reported to BC3 trustees Wednesday there has been no word about the outcome of testimony given Oct. 4 in Harrisburg about the college's financial crisis.

Burtner, along with representatives from Pennsylvania's 14 community colleges, gave testimony to a state Senate legislative committee concerning a funding crisis that community colleges are facing.

Because of a change in how community colleges receive state reimbursement for tuition, all 14 of the community colleges are now suffering financially.

The change in the system was enacted two years ago by the state Department of Education, which forced the 14 community colleges to now share a pot of money allocated by the state, rather than be reimbursed based on the number of full-time students it has enrolled.

The pot system caused a $400,000 shortfall for BC3 last year, and it is facing a $500,000 shortfall this year, Burtner said.

BC3 president Cynthia Azari told trustees a report was made by the Senate committee chairman with recommendations to help alleviate the funding issues based on the testimony.

Among the changes being recommended is to go back to a more traditional funding method based on full-time student enrollment rather than the new "pot" system.

The report was forwarded to the state Department of Education for consideration.

"But so far, we have not heard any word on what they intend to do with those recommendations," Azari said.

Because of the increased activity over the funding, Azari said a Nov. 3 Pennsylvania Community College Commission regional trustees meeting has been cancelled. The meeting will be rescheduled at a later time.