Fact Sheet 14-14 - Community College Base Aid Increased by $75

State Support for Community Colleges will Increase to $2,497 per FTE

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The 2014-15 New York state budget increased the community college base aid funding by $75 per full-time equivalent (FTE) for SUNY and CUNY community colleges from $2,422 to $2,497 per FTE. This marks the third year in a row of increased funding for community colleges. In the previous two budgets funding was increased by $150 per FTE. Community college funding continues to move in a positive direction after sustaining the largest reductions in history from 2009-2010 through 2011-2012. Funding remains $178 below the highest level of funding in 2007-08. The following table provides a recent history of community college Base Aid per FTE.

Total state base aid for CUNY community colleges is increased by $4.7 million and SUNY community college base aid is increased by $10.5 million for 2014-15. Even with the recent increases in state support, the state continues to fail to fund their required 40 percent of the net operating cost for community colleges. SUNY community colleges on average receive 26.3 percent of revenues from state support for 2013-14 budget year and CUNY community colleges received 27.3 percent of revenues from state support for 2013-14. Student tuition revenues continue to overwhelmingly support community college budgets.

Student Support for Community Colleges Remains over 40%

The level of funding for CUNY community colleges from student revenues is expected to be 40.7 percent for the 2013-14 budget year, and 43 percent for SUNY community colleges 2013-14 budget year. Community colleges rely upon support from sponsoring counties (NYC supports CUNY community colleges) which are required to contribute 26.7 percent of net operating costs. On average for the 2013-14 budgeted year localities contributed 30.7 percent of SUNY community college net operating costs and 31.9 percent of CUNY community college net operating costs. The following page provides the net operating costs, the state operating aid, student tuition revenue, and local sponsor revenue for each of the community colleges for 2013-2014 budgeted year.

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