Sandoval budget would cost CSN $26.7 million, president warns

"The cuts that are in the budget are extremely serious," President Michael Richards said. He said the cuts amounted to 29 percent of its state support.

A few dozen college workers showed up for a town hall meeting Wednesday afternoon to hear an update on what budget cuts could mean to the school. CSN is the largest higher education institution in the state, with more than 44,000 students.

Richards told them that past cuts have seen the college close outlying centers, eliminate 5 percent of its jobs through attrition, cut classes and turn away thousands of students.

"They’re basically rolling us back to fiscal year 2003 in terms of state support," Richards said. CSN gets about 70 percent of its total funding from the state, with the rest coming mainly through tuition and fees.

The college’s enrollment has grown by more than 9,000 students since 2003.

J.T. Creedon, CSN’s student body president, encouraged those in attendance to contact their legislators.

Richards did too.

He said the governor’s proposed budget could mean 5 percent pay cuts, sharp increases in tuition and fees, and probably more students being turned away because available classes will be full.

"We basically provide affordable access to lots and lots of people," Richards said. "That’s our mission."

He said tuition and fee increases would be necessary under the governor’s budget. Per credit fees at CSN would have to go from $69.25 to $119.48 to cover the loss. That would be assuming the higher prices did not drive potential students away, a prospect that higher ed leaders have said is unlikely.

Patty Charlton, CSN’s vice president for finance, said CSN keeps 76 percent of the student fees it collects. The rest goes to the state.

Despite the dire prospects, Richards cautioned that the budget process is just beginning. The legislative session starts Monday .