Legislature budget proposals favor Renton Tech, student aid

Renton Technical College could forgo cuts this year, if the state Legislature increases taxes.

Gov. Christine Gregoire's initial budget would have forced about $1.1 million in cuts to RTC's $32.8 million budget.

However the Legislature's budgets, based on more revenue, only cut about $600,000 from RTC's total budget, money the school can absorb from reserve and fund balances, said president Steve Hanson.

"The Senate and the House budgets were very favorable to us," he said, adding that worker retraining is an important economic recovery tool.

As people lose work, they flood to local colleges to pick up new trades and skills.

Last year RTC saw a 70 percent enrollment increase in its worker- retraining programs, Hanson said. "We're seeing huge numbers of students coming back to school to get retrained."

Although optimistic, both budgets hinge on whether the state can find more revenue, making colleges nervous to embrace the proposals.

"We're waiting until they come up with the final numbers," Hanson said.

He hopes the House budget is chosen, because it only means a $600,000 cut from RTC's budget, he said.

The Senate proposed a $1.2 million cut, but then offered one year of work-retraining money, he said.

The extra money makes up the difference between both proposals, but there is no guarantee the retraining money will be restored next year.

Gregoire also proposed severe cuts to financial aid programs.

Her budget cut Need Grants by two-thirds, which means about 500 RTC students would lose some or all of their grant money, Hanson said.

The House and Senate proposed keeping most of the Need Grant.

They also restored about 70 percent of Work Study money, a program Gregoire axed. About 70 RTC students get paid through Work Study, he said.

Although Hanson isn't expecting to make any cuts to programs or student services, the budget is tight.

A hiring freeze will start March 17.

"That's part of the way that we'll be responding to the budget reduction," Hanson said. "At this point we don't envision any layoffs."

Faculty positions won't be frozen, he said.

While cuts won't likely befall RTC next year, the future is grim.

"What we're going to be looking at is planning beyond next year," he said. "The economic forecast isn't that promising."

Contact Renton Reporter Staff Writer Celeste Gracey at cgracey@rentonreporter.com or 425-255-3484, ext. 5052.

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