COLLEGES QUESTION FUND CUTS ALTERNATE PLANS PROPOSED.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Facing cuts of $2.2 million this fiscal year and $5.6 million next year if Gov. Gray Davis' budget proposals are enacted, Antelope Valley College officials are joining other community college leaders to push for less severe budget cuts.

The state community colleges' board of governors and chancellor's office are advocating a counterproposal that would reduce the budget cuts on the community college system to 2.8 percent, the same as those proposed on California elementary, middle and high schools.

``We realize cuts have to be made due to the state's budget crisis,'' AVC spokesman Steve Standerfer said. ``But it's not in the best interest of California to make such drastic cuts to the workhorse of the higher education system.''

Statewide, the counterproposal would reduce the budget hit on the 108 community colleges from $218 million to $158 million. The colleges' proposal does not suggest where else in the state budget the $60 million could come from.

Officials could not say Thursday how much the counterproposal would affect Antelope Valley College's budget.

The counterproposal calls for protecting the community colleges' general apportionment funds over funds that are earmarked for specific programs.

Maintaining the general apportionment funds would provide college officials greater flexibility in budgeting, officials said.

The community colleges are also advocating rolling the funding for the Partnership for Excellence Program, a funding allocation created in the 1990s to reduce the number of dropouts, into the colleges' base funding.

The governor had proposed cuts of 8.36 percent this year in general apportionment and 31.5 percent in next year's budget. At the same time, funding for the Partnership for Excellence Program would be cut 10.8 percent this year and 45.1 percent next year.

``Gov. Gray Davis' proposed budget will have a devastating effect on Antelope Valley College's ability to offer necessary courses, programs, and services to the citizens of the Antelope Valley,'' AVC President Daniel Larios wrote in a letter to state lawmakers. ``As you can see, it will be difficult for us to continue to meet the higher educational demands of one of California's fastest-growing areas if these cuts are fully implemented.''

Antelope Valley College began making budget cuts last summer when it became apparent the state's budget problems would be prolonged, officials said.

The college is under a hiring freeze and has reduced supply budgets, eliminated travel expenses and cut the number of class sessions offered for the spring semester.

College officials said student fees would more than double next school year under Gov. Davis' proposal to deal with the state's huge budget deficit.

The governor is calling for an increase in student fees from $11 a class credit to $24 a credit in the fiscal year beginning in July, meaning class fees for a full-time student taking 12 units would jump from $132 a semester to $288 a semester.

The college formed a task force to compile a list of possible cuts that could be made after AVC officials get a clearer picture of the budget reductions coming from Sacramento.