ARIZONA STATE LEGISLATURE

 

STUDY COMMITTEE ON COMMUNITY COLLEGE FINANCE AND

EXPENDITURE LIMITS

 

Minutes of the Meeting

September 9, 2015

10:00 a.m., Senate Hearing Room 109

 

 

Members Present:

Senator Sylvia Allen, Co-Chair

Representative Bob Thorpe, Co-Chair

Senator Carlyle Begay

Representative Randall Friese

Senator John Kavanagh

Brent McEuen

Michael Stelpstra, Auditor General’s designee

J.D. Rottweiler

Harald Harrington

Dr. Jeanne Swarthout

Lee Lambert

Vice Chancellor Debra Thompson

Sean McCarthy

 

 

 

 

Members Absent:

Representative Justin Olson

 

Heidi Schaefer

 

 

 

 

Staff:

Matt Simon, Senate Research Analyst

Aaron Wonder, House Research Analyst

 

 

Co-Chairman Thorpe called the meeting to order at 10:05 a.m. and attendance was noted.

 

OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Arizona Tax Research Association

 

Sean McCarthy, Arizona Tax Research Association, distributed handouts entitled “Arizona Community College Finance” (Attachment A), “FY 2016 Community College District Financial Information” (Attachment B), “Community College District Expenditure Limit Quick Reference Guide” (Attachment C) and provided information regarding community college expenditure limits. Mr. McCarthy answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

 

 

COMMUNITY COLLEGE PRESENTATIONS

 

Navajo Community College District

 

Dr. Jeanne Swarthout, President, Northland Pioneer College, distributed a handout entitled “Northland Pioneer College Service Area” (Attachment D) and explained the differences with today’s students and the students at the time the expenditure limit formulas were adopted. Dr. Swarthout answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Maricopa Community College District

 

Rufus Glasper, Chancellor, Maricopa Community College District, distributed a handout entitled “Maricopa Community Colleges” (Attachment E) and explained how the community college districts are addressing student needs.  Mr. Glasper gave an overview of the expenditure system and how it is restricting the colleges. Mr. Glasper answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

Senator Kavanagh requested specific ideas from the Community Colleges on how the Legislature can help fix the expenditure limits system.

 

Cochise Community College District

 

J.D. Rottweiler, President, Cochise Community College, distributed a handout entitled “Cochise College and Expenditure Limitation” (Attachment F) and explained the problems with the FTSE (Full Time Student Equivalent) formulas. Mr. Rottweiler answered questions posed by the Committee.

 

DISCUSSION BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

 

Mr. Harrington requested clarification on the formulas used for funding and expenditure limits.

 

Committee members requested specific ideas from the Community Colleges on how the Legislature can help fix the expenditure limits system.

 

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 11:57 a.m.

 

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                                                    Shelley Ponce

                                                                                    Committee Secretary

 

(Audio recordings and attachments are on file in the Secretary of the Senate’s Office/Resource Center, Room 115. Audio archives are available at http://www.azleg.gov)

 

 

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Study Committee on Community College

Finance and Expenditure Limits

September 9, 2015

Page 1

 

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