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Cost-Saving Measures at CTC to Include 4-Day Work Week

August 27, 2008 - In an effort to save on utility costs and help offset the soaring prices of fuel and other services, Columbus Technical College will begin a four-day work and class schedule starting October 1, 2008. This Monday-Thursday week will continue through summer of 2009 and will be evaluated for continuation beyond that time.

“We crunched the numbers and determined the four-day schedule will help lighten the financial burden for the college as a whole and for our employees,” said Columbus Technical College President Bob Jones. “It was not a decision made lightly. We at Columbus Technical College are fortunate that our budgetary planning helped ease the pain of the cutbacks at the state level and the four-day work week will help keep our costs down. There are a few exceptions to the four-day week including some of our Economic Development initiatives and some community partnerships that need accommodating.”

In an internal memo to employees Mr. Jones stated, “You all are urged to be as flexible as possible during this time of uncertainty in our state budget. The College has a mission to accomplish and this will still require certain expenditures and investments in equipment, supplies, and materials. I urge you to be as judicious as possible in your requests for these items while at the same time making sure that critical needs are filled in your program areas.”

The State of Georgia is forecasting as much as a $1.6 billion shortfall in the FY09 budget due to declining revenues. Columbus Technical College, like most other state agencies, has been asked to propose FY09 budget reductions of six, eight and 10 percent. These proposed reductions pertain only to state monies. Columbus Technical College also has local and federal funding included in its budget.

If a six percent reduction is confirmed, it would mean Columbus Technical College would cut an estimated $628,695 from its total state budget of just over $10 million. An eight percent cut would equal about $838,259 and a 10 percent cut would be around $1,047,823.

Thanks to sound financial planning, Columbus Technical College believes it can weather this year’s financial storm. The College has no plans to issue furloughs and employees will still see a 2-1/2% pay raise applied in January of 2009. Columbus Technical College is adhering to other mandated state restrictions.

President Jones said, “While we feel we can get there this year, unless measures are taken to improve revenue for the next fiscal year, I cannot guarantee that more restrictive measures will have to be taken.”

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