HIGHER EDUCATION: Lawmakers should support Blunt's funding goals
By JOHN M. MCGUIRE
04/08/2005
Hundreds of Missouri community college students traveled to the state Capitol in Jefferson City last month in a Rally for Education. The rally was intended, in large part, to thank Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt and many state legislators for their recent commitment to avoiding budget cuts that have plagued our public colleges and universities for several years.
Gov. Blunt has held fast to his 2005-2006 budget plan for the state's investment in higher education, and he understands that an educated citizenry is a public good that will reap many rewards for Missourians and for the state's economy and well-being.
But as the Missouri Legislature reconvenes to deliberate the budget for fiscal year 2005-2006, members of the Senate Appropriations Committee are said to differ with Gov. Blunt and the Missouri House on the specifics of appropriations bills. If the Legislature does not support the governor's recommendations by the May 6 budget deadline, Missouri citizens' access to educational opportunities will erode further. Closing off those opportunities for higher education would handicap the state's work force development, productivity and the future economic benefits that flow from them.
Community colleges, beset with millions of dollars in cuts from 2001 through 2003, cannot afford to suffer more cuts. For St. Charles Community College, despite significant enrollment growth, funds from the state were even lower in 2004 than they were in 2000. Budget restrictions and state withholdings in recent years also have forced increases in tuition and fees for Missouri students and their families. Any new cuts would result in significantly fewer opportunities for students and cutbacks in much-needed programs.
The governor, by proposing to hold next year's appropriation at current levels, has recognized the negative impact of previous budget cuts on higher education and has resolved that the state's 12 community college districts will not lose more ground.
In today's work force, a college education is as essential as a high school education once was. Businesses are looking for highly skilled workers, and community colleges are uniquely positioned to respond to their needs.
In 2004, CCBenefits, Inc., a firm specializing in calculations of the economic benefits of community colleges, estimated that taxpayers and state and local governments receive a 9.8 percent rate of return on monies invested in Missouri's community colleges. The benefits take the form of increased earnings, increased business activities and a decrease in social costs. By providing higher education and work force training to more people, community colleges also help taxpayers save an estimated $16.5 million annually in welfare and unemployment benefits.
Last year, more than 150,000 Missourians enrolled in community college courses for credit in continuing education classes and in specialized courses. An additional 60,000 were trained for new jobs or for changing job requirements.
It is no secret that what community colleges do best is provide access and opportunity for high-quality education at an affordable cost. State funding for higher education is an investment in the future of our citizens, our communities and our state. The governor understands that it would be shortsighted to enact budget cuts that would restrict even further the educational opportunities available to high school graduates and to people seeking to retrain for a changing work force.
Gov. Blunt deserves praise, and he also deserves the support of both the House and the Senate in maintaining funding for our colleges and universities.
John M. McGuire has been president of St. Charles Community College in St. Peters since November 1996.
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