State cuts throw wrench at Three Rivers College budget; future of Sikeston campus unclear

Work is progressing at the new Three Rivers College - East Campus at Sikeston and on schedule, according to the on-site foreman. State budget cuts will force Three Rivers College trustees to cut $673,000 from the schools budget in July. At this time it is unclear how those cuts will impact the building of the new campus in Sikeston.

By DONNA FARLEY

SEMO News Service

POPLAR BLUFF -- Three Rivers College trustees approved a balanced budget Wednesday for the 2015 fiscal year, but will come back in July to cut $673,000 due to withholdings from the state.

Trustees also approved a separation agreement with Tinnin Fine Arts Center Director Robert Cook, whose last day of employment was May 22. He will continue to be paid his regular salary in June and July. The agreement does not indicate why Cook agreed to resign from the position, which he started in August 2012 at a salary of $45,000.

State withholdings represents about 3 percent of the approximately $26 million budget, said Chief Financial Officer Charlotte Eubank, following the board's monthly meeting. Three Rivers has also had to absorb $84,000 in state withholdings from the current budget following an announcement in May.

The current budget year ends June 30.

Trustees said they are confident college leaders will be able to make the necessary cuts to balance the new budget.

"It's going to be hard, obviously," said trustee Phil Davis of Ripley County. "The cabinet had done a really good job with the budget managers in getting a balanced budget. I feel confident they will get a balanced budget again."

The college has to deal with withholdings at this time every year, said trustee Darren Garrison of Piedmont.

"The governor and the legislature are in a tug of war, with education in the middle," Garrison said. "We'll cinch our belts and do the best we can."

The cuts will likely be a collection of things from many different areas, Eubank said.

All of the $673,000 represented new money for the college.

About $150,000 had been allotted by the state for specific operations at off campus sites and community outreach, Eubank said.

Another $250,000 was lost in sector equity money, funds designed to make state support of community colleges more fair when compared to four-year institutions.

Approximately $250,000 was also lost from an expected 5 percent increase to core funding.

Interim college President Dr. Wes Payne said these cuts would be among his top priorities, second only to making the announcement to employees Wednesday of the change in Three Rivers leadership.

Payne planned to meet with other administrators to see how they could collectively find a solution to match the funds the governor had taken away.

The college's ability to handle this new challenge will depend on whether or not enrollment continues to go up, according to Board of Trustees Chairman Randy Grassham of Van Buren.

"If we have to put other projects on hold, we will," he said.