GOVERNOR'S DECISION TO IMPLEMENT LOCAL COMPOSITE INDEX FOR COMING FISCAL YEAR TO MEAN FURTHER 2010-11 BUDGET CUTS FOR W-JCC

Gov. Bob McDonnell's announcement Monday that he will support updating the Local Composite Index, with implementation in the upcoming fiscal year, will mean a reduction of at least another $2.3 million in W-JCC's 2010-11 operating budget, Superintendent Gary Mathews said.

"In total, and given further cuts anticipated out of the General Assembly, we're looking at about $8.6 million in budget cuts per the superintendent's proposed budget for 2010-11," Dr. Mathews said. "As echoed by many educators throughout the state, these cuts will change education and school operations for years to come."

Former Gov. Timothy Kaine, before leaving office, had proposed freezing the LCI at its current level in his proposed budget. The LCI has historically always been adjusted every two years to account for changing local economic conditions. McDonnell said the proposal to freeze the Index was unprecedented, and would have cost certain localities in Northern Virginia $128.3 million in state education funding.

"Our most conservative estimate as to the impact this decision will have on W-JCC's 2010-11 budget is that we will see reductions of at least $2.3 million, and more given the state's budget crisis," Dr. Mathews said. "Therefore, in consultation with Board Chairman Jim Nickols, the special budget retreat originally scheduled for this coming Saturday at Thomas Nelson Community College has been cancelled so that our senior leadership team can reassess the budget situation and make new recommendations to the Board."