NICC Board approves 2012 budget

The NICC Board of Trustees has approved a 2012 fiscal year budget which calls for $30,926,434 in spending. That represents a 2.57 percent increase over this year's spending. But NICC President Dr. Penny Wills also has announced plans to suggest further cuts for approval by the board in April.

Due to previous losses of state general aid, NICC has already trimmed administrative costs, frozen wages for two years, imposed hiring freezes, cut several programs and reduced departmental budgets to a bare minimum.

"The only thing left to do is cut strong academic programs that are fully enrolled and much needed in our community," stated Dr. Wills.

25 percent of NICC's operating funds comes from state general aid, six percent comes from local taxpayers and about 58 percent comes from student tuition. That means NICC officials are keeping a close watch on the state legislature. Final state general aid will probably not be determined until May. NICC's fiscal year will begin in July, which means any reductions in state aid will be felt almost immediately.



In response to proposed state general aid cuts this coming year, the board voted to offer a retirement incentive to 61 eligible faculty and staff aged 55 and older. The details of the plan will be released to the college community later this week. The deadline to respond to the offer is March 31, 2011.