School Finance
May 01, 2013

Fact Sheet 13-5: Community College Base Aid Increased by $150 per FTE

Source: NYSUT Research and Educational Services

State Support for Community Colleges will Increase to $2,422 per FTE

This year the Governor and Legislature have agreed to a $150 per full-time equivalent (FTE) increase in state base aid, support for SUNY and CUNY community colleges from $2,272 to $2,422 per FTE.

This follows last year’s increase of $150 per FTE. This is the second largest increase since the beginning of base aid funding, and the combined increases in 2012-13 and 2013-14 are the second largest two-year increase. Community college funding has begun to move in a positive direction after sustaining the largest reductions in history from 2009-2010 through 2011-2012.

Total State Base Aid for CUNY Community Colleges is increased by $9.2 million and SUNY Community College Base Aid is increased by $21.5 million for 2013-14. Even with the recent increases in state support the state continues fail in funding their required 40% of the net operating cost for community colleges.

SUNY Community Colleges on average receive 25.6% of revenues from state support for 2012-13 and CUNY community colleges received 26% of revenues from state support for 2012-13. Student tuition revenues continue to support community college budgets.

Student Support for Community Colleges Remains Over 40%

The level of funding for CUNY community college from student revenues is expected to be 40.1% for the 2012-13 budget year, and 43.9% for the SUNY community college budget year.

Community colleges rely upon support from sponsoring counties which are required to contribute 26.7% of net operating costs. On average for the 2012-13 budgeted year localities contributed 30.6% of SUNY community college net operating costs and 33.9% of CUNY community college net operating costs.