ECC bumps up budget by $5 million

Elgin Community College trustees Tuesday voted in a $87.8 million budget -- a $5 million increase from last year.

The college's tentative budget, on public display since mid-May, initially called for $85.7 million -- a $2.1 million difference.

The source of that difference, Vice President of Business and Finance Sharon Konney said, is construction projects that have not yet been completed.

Those projects include installing surveillance cameras in ECC's parking lot and flat paneled monitors in classroom buildings, she said.

"Rather than rushing things, we moved the corresponding fund balance from the 2008 to 2009 budget," she said.

A majority of next year's budget -- nearly $55 million -- will be spent on staff salaries, benefits, supplies and student services.

Another $11 million will go toward operations and maintenance of the college, $1 million will be spent on capital projects and $2 million will pay down the bond and interest fund.

Most of ECC's operating budget revenue comes from property taxes. About 25 percent comes from tuition and fees; 13 percent from the state.

In addition to the unfinished projects, Konney pinned the bigger budget on several items.

The college is adding five full-time faculty members this year, Konney said.

Additionally, she said, ECC is expanding its curriculum with two new health programs -- histotechnology and radiography.

The other added cost, she said, "is money for gas and electric. Just maintaining our grounds and putting gas in our tractors is getting more expensive than ever," she said.