College Budget Cuts Classes, Health Perks

Faced with dwindling state funds, Glendale College trustees have adopted a 1991-1992 budget that calls for nearly $2.5 million in program cuts, including the elimination of 100 classes.

The $57.5-million balanced budget, nearly $1.2 million less than last year’s, will also slice hours for academic and financial aid counseling and could affect health insurance benefits for college employees.

“While this budget is balanced, it is balanced precariously,” said Thomas Fallo, vice president of administrative services. “I’m very concerned about state revenues.”

Maintaining the current level of health benefits for college employees could mean dipping into the budget’s $1.2-million contingency fund, Fallo said.

The budget, which was adopted Monday, allows for a 10% increase in the health benefits, but costs could rise as much as 19%, Fallo said.

During Monday’s meeting, Linda Garzapena, president of the Glendale chapter of the California School Employees’ Assn., criticized the impending cutback in health benefits.

“It would be a major blow to the morale of our employees to hit them with yet another cutback,” Garzapena said. “It would create an atmosphere of less cooperation in the district when you ask us to tighten our belt because of the budgetary crunch.”

Fallo said college officials are negotiating with employees on the benefit question.

But by far, the largest area hit by the cut will be class offerings, said Sam Black, director of accounting. College officials hope to save $300,000 by dropping 50 classes each semester. Black said he did not know which classes would be eliminated.