Southwest Mississippi Community College will be looking at a budget of more than $14 million for the 2011-12 school year that includes proposed pay raises for faculty and staff.
The college’s board of trustees on Tuesday night set the maximum revenues and expenses at $14.7 million, which is about $500,00 more than the current amended budget of $14.2 million.
Trustees followed the budget vote by approving a proposed average 3.3 percent pay raise for faculty and staff.
The college’s budget must be approved by August.
Finance committee chairman James Quin said the proposed figure is a guide to set the college’s fiscal 2011-12 budget.
“This sets our maximum revenues and expenditures,” Quin said. “The budget will not exceed this amount.”
Quin said not everyone at the school will receive a 3.3 percent pay raise.
“Some raises will be lower and some will be higher,” he said.
According to a breakdown of the proposed pay increase, academic faculty members will receive an average annual increase of $1,909 per teacher.
Career and technical instructors will receive an average of $1,753 per teacher.
The proposed budget projects a $200,000 increase in student fees, from $4.8 million to $5 million.
SMCC President Dr. Oliver Young said the projected increase does not include a raise in fees and tuition.
He said an increase in fees and tuition during the 2011 school year influenced the projected budget increase.
Young said tuition and fees, which were raised in fiscal 2011, were underbudgeted in the 2010-11 budget.
According to a budget breakdown, SMCC received more than $500,000 more in tuition and fees than projected in the 2011 budget.
In other budget items, SMCC will receive $160,000 less in state funds and $135,000 less in federal grants and contracts.
In other action, the board:
• Dedicated $1.14 million in state capital improvement bonds to a dormitory project.
Physical resources committee chairman Reggie Jones said the money will be used either to renovate a dormitory or build a new dorm on campus.
College officials did not specify whether the funds would be dedicated to the men’s or women’s dorms.
He said a recommendation on the project will be made later.
In a related matter, the board approved allowing the American Red Cross to use rooms in the men’s dormitory from May 20 to June 6 to house evacuees from Mississippi River flooding, if needed.
• Rehired the college’s coaches and hired Drew Gallant as men’s and women’s soccer coach.
• Learned from Young that SMCC’s well-drilling program and workforce training programs will provide continuing education program for drillers. He said the program is part of new requirements that drillers receive up to four hours of continuing education annually.
