Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Governor’s budget and impact on MDC
The unveiling of the Governor’s Budget proposal to the Legislature this week has raised serious concern to many in the education community statewide. Upon a brief review for the Florida College System (FCS), this is what we understand the Governor’s recommendation will mean to our System:
- The loss of $83 million (the entire American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) stimulus funding with NO replacement);
- A cut of $8.1 million which was non-recurring funding from the previous year;
- A reduction of $33.9 million, equaling a 5% cut from the employer’s contribution to the retirement funds in the Florida Retirement System (FRS), to be made up by employees’ contribution for their own retirement.
- An appropriation of $5 million for 2+2 partnerships.
There was no specific recommendation for each of the twenty-eight colleges; therefore, Miami Dade College can only estimate the impact to the College. The College represents approximately 18-20% of the Florida College System.
The House and the Senate will be analyzing the Governor’s proposal and begin developing their own budgets over the next month. The Legislature is holding interim committee meetings in Tallahassee, and the Regular Session commences March 8th. Our early assessments from members of the Miami Dade Delegation are that they, too, are worried about how these cuts will affect their constituents. However, we need to be very informed and engaged in communicating our concerns as budget talks begin.
As we do every year, we will be providing updates for our students, faculty and staff through our on-line publication “Straight from the Capitol;” through the briefings of the Campus-based Advocacy Teams; and through the weekly news “Perception” by the Association of Florida Colleges (formerly known as FACC).
Victoria Hernandez, Director of Governmental Affairs, is in Tallahassee already, and has received MDC students and campus presidents who are walking the halls of the Capitol knocking on doors and advocating for MDC issues. She can be reached at vhernand@mdc.edu
Your voices do make a difference, and I urge you to remain vigilant over these matters that affect YOU and our entire College family.
Thank you.
Eduardo