DISTRICT SAYS FUNDING KEY TO PROGRAMS.

Byline: - Mariel Garza

Los Angeles community colleges may have to cut courses and limit student enrollment if they lose state funding next fiscal year, officials warned state lawmakers during a special legislative forum Wednesday.

Officials at the nine-campus Los Angeles Community College District said with the economic recession that they fear deeper budget cuts, even as they experience booming enrollments that includes laid-off workers seeking job retraining.

``It's going to be a critical year for education ... as we deal with this economic crisis,'' board trustee Warren Furutani said.

The meeting was sponsored by the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees and state Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, who was unable to attend because of a prior engagement.

The forum was designed to marshal support from Southern California lawmakers who could play a key role in the district's fight for greater state funding.

Earlier this year, Gov. Gray Davis proposed slashing $98 million in community college funds statewide only to later restore $46.9 million.

Now state officials predict a $4.5 billion budget shortfall by the end of fiscal year 2001-02 and have asked colleges and universities to trim.

LACCD officials warned that if growth continues without an increase in state funding, the board might have to deny admittance to new students and cut popular but expensive programs, such as nursing. The district currently receives no state funding for about 10,000 students.