MACo and the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) sent a letter to legislative leaders urging them to reject the proposed dramatic, permanent cuts to State funding for community colleges.
Counties have collaborated with community colleges to urge the General Assembly to reject proposed cuts to State funding for two-year institutions. As previously reported on Conduit Street, the Budget Reconciliation and Financing Act (BRFA) proposes to reduce fiscal 2025 funding for community colleges by $23 million. In addition, rebasing the funding formula will result in significant cuts in perpetuity.
State funding for Maryland’s community colleges is based on the Senator John R. Cade funding formula, which aims to provide community colleges with predictable operations support and help maintain affordable tuition rates. The current formula bases community college funding on a percentage of the appropriation per full-time enrollment student at four-year public higher education institutions.
When the Cade Funding formula was established in 1996, the policy goal was to achieve an equitable distribution of State support to all public institutions of higher education. Considering all sources of funding and the types of educational programs offered, the policy was established that 29% of funding per student would be equitable for community colleges.
But for 25 years, the State employed formula-rebasing techniques to decrease community college funding or delay full funding of the formula, resulting in a lengthy history of imbalance in State support of its community colleges compared to public four-year colleges. From 2009 to 2022, the State shortchanged community colleges by over $140 million, further harming Maryland’s most vulnerable student population.
For the past two years – for the first time – the State fulfilled its obligation to fully fund Maryland’s community colleges. Achieving this goal is more than just receiving an increase − it is a recognition that students enrolled in community colleges deserve the same level of support as public university students.
When fully funding the Cade formula, the State supports equitable access to higher education for all Marylanders. But by rebasing one formula, the State effectively prioritizes one segment over the other.
The proposed cuts come as community enrollment is up by eight percent. In addition, because the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future places increased roles and responsibilities on community colleges through dual enrollment and college and career readiness (CCR), these proposed cuts are particularly untoward.
On February 7, 2024, MACo and MACC sent a letter to House Speaker Adrienne Jones, Senate President Bill Ferguson, Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Chair Guy Guzzone, and House Appropriations Committee Chair Ben Barnes outlining concerns and asking them to reject the dramatic cuts to community colleges.
From the letter:
The Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) and the Maryland Association of Community Colleges (MACC) urge the General Assembly to reject the proposed dramatic, permanent cuts to state community college funding. Maryland’s community colleges are anchor institutions − serving some of our most vulnerable student populations, including a large portion of the state’s Pell Grant recipients – and deserve equitable funding compared to four-year colleges.
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When State funding lags, additional pressure builds on county budgets and student tuition. As county governments are similarly facing budget constraints, these cuts will result in tuition increases at a time when training and education opportunities are most needed.
Our state’s economic competitiveness hinges largely on its workforce. A robust, well-trained, educated workforce encourages businesses to locate and grow in Maryland. Community colleges are pivotal in revitalizing our communities by collaborating with local employers to develop tailored workforce training to equip our residents with the skills and credentials necessary to secure well-paying jobs, reduce unemployment, and stimulate local economic growth.
Maryland’s community colleges are graduating more students than ever, and enrollment is up eight percent over last year. Given those successes, combined with the lengthy history of inequitable funding, permanently slashing funding for community colleges is particularly untoward.
MACo and MACC recognize that community colleges are critical for helping Marylanders re-enter the workforce and rebuild after the pandemic. We urge the General Assembly to fully fund community colleges in FY 2025 and maintain the same level of support moving forward, demonstrating the State’s commitment to an equitable distribution of resources.
Stay tuned to Conduit Street for more information.
