May 29, 2009
President of Rural College Describes Impact of Budget Debate

Northeastern Technical College President Ron Bartley says the budget saga playing out in the South Carolina and federal courts is having a negative effect on his institutions ability to plan for the future.  And, depending on how the saga plays out, the impact on NETC students, their families and their communities could be debilitating. 

“Right now we’re like a bus unable to chart our route because we don’t know how much gas is available to put in the tank” he said.  “And without that knowledge, we’re not sure how many passengers we can pick up to take them to where they need to go.”

The state of limbo is directly related to the South Carolina state budget issues now playing out in state and federal courts. 

“The actions of Governor Sanford to refuse money that can help stabilize the operations of South Carolina education, including higher education and K-12 agencies, is simply unwise,” said Bartley. 

“The longer that refusal stands, the longer our students and our communities will suffer economically and educationally because we will not be able to meet the special needs or our area.”

The college has faced challenges already this year to meet those needs.  For example, NETC has experienced state mandated budget reductions totaling nearly $600,000 since July 2008.  These reductions resulted in the elimination of eight positions, a mandatory two day furlough for employees, a 40 percent reduction in professional development funds and 18 percent reduction in library funds. 

Northeastern Technical College serves the rural counties of Chesterfield, Marlboro and Dillon counties in northeastern South Carolina.  Each county consistently ranks high among counties in South Carolina with high unemployment rates.  Additionally, these counties average 20 percent less than the national average for high school graduation rates, and two percent less than the state average according to Census data. 

“As a state, the best investment we can make right now is education,” he said citing labor statistics that project 65 percent of jobs in the emerging  knowledge economy will require more than a high school diploma and less than a four year degree. 

“But with the limited support we are getting from our Governor, we will be unable to prepare our citizens for these types of employment opportunities and those citizens will not have access to a vehicle that can improve their quality of life.”

In preparation for two possible funding scenarios, one with and one without federal stimulus money, Northeastern Technical College is developing two budgets.  The stimulus free budget version will have a significant impact on the students and communities the college serves, especially given the rural location.

 “As a small college serving a rural, somewhat depressed area, the reach of our economic impact is much more obvious than our sister colleges in metropolitan areas,” said Bartley.

For example, implementing the stimulus free budget will require the college to consider tuition increases and closing, or delaying expansion of, community campuses in Pageland, Bennettsville and Dillon. 

“Both of these scenarios greatly affect our ability to offer our citizens open access to higher education, which is a founding principal to NETC’s mission” said Bartley.  “But if we cannot afford to keep all our campuses open, or we have to charge more for students to enter our doors, then we’ll be limiting access to educational opportunities for everyone”.

Operating from a stimulus free budget will also have an impact on the economic stability of the communities the college serves.  A possible reduction in force and additional mandatory furloughs, for example, will influence how employees spend their income, even on the basic necessities of life.

“Without the stimulus money, we will be forced to cut personnel and require more mandatory furlough days,” he said.  “Those two actions will greatly reduce the income employees will spend in their communities and that will create additional challenges to our already struggling local economies”.

Despite the uncertainties, Bartley remains hopeful the battles in the courts will be resolved in a manner that will best benefit South Carolina students. 

 “Otherwise, NETC students, families and their communities stand to lag behind other regions, the state and the nation in access to opportunities that can dramatically change their lives,” said Bartley. 

In the meantime, he will continue to load the NETC bus with citizens looking to better their lives through education. 

“I just hope we can drive them to their dream and not be forced to drop them on the corner of despair.”