Elliot Golan/Roundup
Pierce College is currently $1.8 million short of budget for the year.
Pierce will not be allowed to use it’s $8.5 million surplus from last year to close the gap, according to Kenneth Takeda, vice president of administrative services and member of the Pierce College Council.
Proposed solutions were discussed at the Pierce College Council meeting on Thursday in the College Services Building at Pierce.
“In the past we’ve been able to use up to 25 percent,” said Takeda of the surplus money. “The district doesn’t want us to use it.”
It will remain in the overall budget and will be “hypothetically” available next year, according to Takeda.
Takeda said that Pierce will consider taking $1 million out of the account from the Orange Line fund. The parking lot for the nearby metro is build on land leased from Pierce College.
Other possible solutions to the shortage include money gained from bookstore, cafeteria and parking revenue streams.
A final possibility mentioned was the possibility of furlough days. A furlough is an unpaid leave of absence from work, either voluntary or involuntary. A popular solution in recent times among government workers to control labor costs, Takeda said it would have to be a decision from the board of trustees of the district.
The meeting also included the voting in of it’s new chair. Lyn Clark won the election for the vacant position unanimously. She ran unopposed.
The next meeting of the Pierce College Council will take place at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
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