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Mayor Mike Bloomberg’s proposed 2008-2009 executive budget, which he presented earlier this month, would cut $48.1 million in City funding for the City University of New York, including a $26 million reduction to the community colleges.
The reductions come at a time of record-high enrollment. There are 80,000 degree credit students attending the City’s six community colleges and another 118,000 students enrolled in adult and continuing education annually.

The presidents of Queens’ two community colleges, LaGuardia and Queensborough, announced Tuesday that the proposed cutbacks would halt important construction and repair projects.

Queensborough’s operating budget would be slashed by 8 percent.

“A reduction of this magnitude will have a very real impact on the quality of services and learning opportunities that we will be able to offer our students,” Queensborough Community College President Edward Marti said.

And at LaGuardia, the executive budget proposal would cut $5 million from overall spending. According to President Gail Mellow, the reduction will not only adversely affect its 15,000 students, but also harm the surrounding area.
“[Community Colleges] are very vital partners with the borough in terms of economic development, job training and community development,” CUNY Communications and Marketing Director Michael Arena said.

CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein will testify before the City Council Finance and Higher Education Committee on May 16.

“We’re seeking restorations to the budget that will assist the community colleges in their important mission,” Arena said.

The City Council can revise the proposed reductions over the coming weeks. A final plan will be negotiated with the Mayor by June 5.

“Community colleges in the past seven years have experienced a very strong enrollment growth,” Arena said. “A lot of positive things have happened at community colleges in Queens and we want to keep that momentum going.”