Officials from Bladen Community College appeared before the Bladen County Commissioners at their Monday evening public hearing on the proposed 2005-2006 county budget to ask for an increase in local funding.

BCC President Dr. Darrell Page acknowledged that the proposed budget contains an increase in local funding for the college of $27,500. He added that he appreciated the efforts the commissioners had made in forming a committee to meet with a similar committee from the college in an effort to better understand the needs of the college.

Page pointed out, however, that even with the increase in local funding in the proposed budget, BCC would remain far behind the state average in local funding.

He explained that on the average across the state, local funding equates to about 12 percent of funding from the state. At BCC, the percentage is about four percent, one of the lowest in the state.

"To operate successfully and to serve the people of Bladen County, we critically need additional allocations and a commitment from the Board of Commissioners to make a concerted effort to increase our local budget to the state average of 12 percent of our state budget," he said.

"In Bladen County, BCC is truly the hope of the people. It is the hope of the voters that elect you to office. It is the hope of struggling parents trying to make a better life for their children and to compete for jobs in a global society.

"These are not just abstract words. Look at BCC's student body-72 percent are on Pell grants or some other type of financial assistance; 60 percent are non-white; many are single parents; over 70 percent are women; and most are unemployed as a result of plant closings or a sluggish and depressed economy.

"For these students, we are their only hope and their gateway to survival and economic security," Page added.

Page also pointed out that the college is not an expense to the county, but rather, an asset. He cited a study completed by CC Benefits that that shows the impact of the college on the county.

"Our institution has a multi-million dollar payroll of six-and-a-half million. Students who earn a two-year degree from Bladen Community College increase their earning potential by $257,942 more than a high school graduate throughout the course of their career. These statistics are validated in the study by CC Benefits that you have before you," Page said.

He emphasized that the college has experienced growth of approximately 80 percent over the past six years but that local funding has remained at essentially the 2001 level.

BCC Director of Fiscal Affairs Lloyd Horne discussed some specifics regarding needs of the college that must be funded with local dollars.

He pointed out that the additional dollars in the county manager's proposed budget would extend the contracts on three mobile classrooms on the main campus in Dublin and on the space at the old Bladen Middle School, which BCC has leased to provide continuing education classes.

"Funding to extend these contracts to the end of the fiscal year is a good move," he said.

Horne said that the college's present locally funded budget of $570,550 would increase to $598,050 with the county manager's proposed budget. However, he pointed out that it would have to increase to approximately $1,500,000 to meet the state average of 12 percent.

He said a pressing need for the upcoming fiscal year is for $34,185 to provide janitorial and maintenance services for the new Industrial Training Center, which is scheduled to open in August, and for the East Arcadia campus. He said that funding is already obligated for these services but was not provided in the proposed budget.

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