GCC gets $300K more than expected from state

Recorder Staff

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College has decided to re-evaluate whether it will increase fees in the fall after learning it will receive an additional $300,000 from the state this year.

College President Robert Pura said Wednesday that when the state announced it would provide another $13 million to community colleges throughout the state this year, GCC learned it would get $300,000 of that pot.

State funding, which makes up about half of the college’s revenues, was $9.7 million this year and GCC received $315,000 in extra money to cover faculty raises.

“We are assessing the impact of the extra $300,000 as we speak,” said Pura. “We’ll know within a week or two what the impact will be.”

Pura said he isn’t sure yet whether the money will be used to offset a planned increase in next year’s student fees and programs fees or if it will help cover other rising costs.

“We do appreciate what we’re getting,” said Pura. “Our delegation has worked hard to get this for us and we’ll continue, and it seems they will, too, to support and improve higher education.”

Pura said he does not want to see a raise in fees if it can be avoided. He said the college has held off raising fees on programs for years.