College District’s Budget Approved

The Rancho Santiago Community College District has given final approval to the budget for its 1997-98 fiscal year.

The $130.9-million spending plan includes 2.79% pay raises for the district’s faculty and administrators.

Other employees, including classified and child development staff members, are negotiating contracts.

The general fund, which mainly pays employee salaries, accounts for about $96 million of the total budget. The rest of the money is designated for purposes such as capital improvements.

Although the district dodged a shortfall, Vice Chancellor Gary L. Murph said, “We never have enough money. . . . We always hope to get more support from the state, which gives community colleges half of what the Cal State and University of California systems get. But, we still can offer relevant programs.”