Trustees address Controller investigations

The Los Angeles Community College (LACCD) Board of Trustees passed several measures to address investigations by the State Controller’s Office during their public meeting at Valley College Wednesday afternoon.

The board has mandated a change in the colleges’ budgeting system.  A master budget plan that focuses on individual projects will replace the current college level budget.  The revised budget of $1,122 million contains $529 million for salaries and employee benefits.  The budget for loans and grants is $307 million and $97 million for contract services.

Chancellor Daniel J. LaVista summed up the mission statement of the board by saying, “Do things in favor of the students.”

He said the greatest obstacle facing students is the ability to pay for their education, not academic preparation.

There are 40,103 new students in the LACCD and 101,715 returning or continuing students. The colleges’ spend an average $8,000 on each student every year.

Pierce College President Dr. Kathleen Burke-Kelly said the college will know in January if it will face further budget constraints from Sacramento.

A plan to lease space at the Pierce Library Crossroads Building to food service vendors was not approved.

 

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