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Gavilan College officials reported a strong financial standing at the Nov. 12 Board of Trustees meeting, but warned of possible long-term challenges.
Superintendent Pedro Avila emphasized the dramatic increase in the college’s available cash in the 2023-24 school year. For 2021-22, there was around $3.5 million. For 2023-24, there is $24 million.
He said the increase is “just a reflection of all the good work we’ve been doing with the budget.”
But when asked about the long-term stability of the budget, Vice President of Administrative Services Marilyn Morikang expressed caution.
“There is always uncertainty in a California community college budget,” she said.
Avila later echoed this uncertainty in his president’s report. He said that at the most recent Community College Central Coast meeting, he had spoken with state Sen. John Laird about future challenges.
“He knows that the governor’s got a couple more years left, and he’s not going to want to leave a deficit on the way out, because he has an aspiration to run for president,” Avila said. “So we don’t know what he’s going to cut.”
Director of Capital Projects Serafin Fernandez reported that the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Gavilan’s Hollister campus was Nov. 13, and that board members will continue to approve purchases for it.
“We are in the process of purchasing all of the equipment to support the building for facilities, security as well as instruction,” Fernandez said.
Board members also approved purchases for chemistry lab equipment and sewer connection fees.
The board reapproved an agreement with HOPE Services to continue to provide vocational services. They also approved a plan to restructure the school’s human resources and information technology departments.
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