Bill Reduces GCC Funding Even If it Becomes Independent

The Payson Roundup reports that there’s bad news along with the good news that an Arizona House committee has approved a route for Gila Community College to become independent.

The House Higher Education Committee finally made Gila Community College eligible for money other colleges have received for years. But representatives of other community colleges threatened to bury the bill that would have made GCC eligible for $280,000 in workforce development funds. So Sen. Sylvia Allen agreed to amend the bill so that GCC won’t get the base payment received by the state’s other community college districts.

Each year $13 million is divided among the districts. The money goes to support job training and certification programs, like Gila Community College’s nursing program. Other districts oppose adding Gila County and the other provisional district in Santa Cruz County to the pool because it would mean less money for them.This means that Gila County taxpayers won’t benefit from the sales tax surcharge that helps students in the rest of the state.

GCC Board member Thomas Loeffler says that under the terms of the workforce training bill, GCC won’t get the funding even if it becomes independent. Loeffler says this is blatently unfair and urges Sen. Allen to fight for a new amendment when the bill goes to the House floor.

College Independence Bill Passes Committee

The Payson Daily Bugle online newspaper reports that the Arizona Senate Education Committee has approved a bill that would make it easier for Gila Community College to become independent.

The bill is sponsored by Sen. Sylvia Allen and Sen. Rich Crandall, who is Chairman of the Committee. If the bill is approved by the full Legislature, it would amend Arizona Revised Statutes relating to community colleges by allowing provisional colleges to meet certain criteria to gain independence.

A similar bill in the Arizona House is sponsored by 5th District Representatives Brenda Barton and Chester Crandell.

Gila Community College is a provisional college and contracts with Eastern Arizona College for administrative services. EAC makes all decisions concerning budget, program and tuition, and charges a 25% overhead fee for its services.