Bucks President James Linksz joined two other community college presidents at the State Capitol to testify before the House Appropriations Committee for increased state funding to the state’s 14 public two-year institutions.

Alex Johnson of the Community College of Allegheny College and president of the Pennsylvania Commission for Community Colleges was the lead speaker for the group; Nick Neupauer of Butler County Community College and vice president of the Commission, joined Johnson and Linksz.

Governor Tom Corbett’s proposed 2012-13 budget would reduce community colleges’ budget by five percent. This would put the budget below 1995-96 levels, while enrollment has increased by 65,000 students. The 14 colleges have helped about 500,000 students in the 2010-11 year alone.

This reduces colleges’ ability to create new programs and keep up with workplace demands. Programs such as welding, biotechnology and environmental technologies will especially suffer; all industries seeking skilled employees.

Linksz spoke about how capital funding is needed for new building, repairing old buildings and providing equipment.

“The state cannot be competitive and attract new industries while growing existing businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship with the current budget constraints,” Johnson said.

Perhaps the biggest blow is to the students themselves. A lower budget means higher tuition costs, something that these students may not be able to afford. The median family income of the students at these colleges is $26,056 while the median family income in the state is $49,288. This could make higher education become impossible for lower income families. Over half the students at the community college also receive financial aid.

“The irony of this erosion of state support comes at a time when the commonwealth and its residents need community colleges to be providing more, not less, in terms of programs and access,” Johnson said.

The proposed budget also contradicts the Governor’s call for increased career training and his belief that a skilled workforce is needed to improve the economy.

The presidents requested $10 million in capital funding and to have their operations budgets restored. “The state appears to be reconsidering its commitment to higher education altogether – at every sector level. I do not see a rapid return to full funding for any sector given the combination of poor revenue collections and a philosophical position that seems to support funds following students rather than providing continuing support for institutions. The result will inevitably be higher tuition and reduced program choices over time,” Linksz said.

The new state budget will also affect elementary and secondary public schools, possibly cutting bus transportation for some districts. The budget will also decrease aid to the poor, elderly and disabled, but at the same time reduces corporate taxes. The $27.1 billion budget plan does mean no tax hikes, but citizens are concerned that it’s low income families that will suffer.