Budget adopted

The Southwestern Michigan College Board of Trustees adopted the college’s 2013-2014 operating budget during its June 17 meeting held on the Dowagiac campus.

The budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is a balanced budget of $22,824,000.

Board Chairman Dr. Fred L. Mathews said, “Southwestern Michigan College has adopted a structurally balanced budget each and every year since the college was founded in 1964. I am very proud of the Board of Trustees and the college administration for their unwavering commitment to sound fiscal management, and for identifying creative ways to increase opportunities for students within the constraints of a balanced budget.”

SMC President Dr. David Mathews described the budget development process this year as a “zero-based” budgeting approach.

Significant highlights of the budget approved by trustees include: four new full-time faculty positions in psychology, mathematics, criminal justice, and communications; restructured student services in newly renovated spaces; a major renovation and academic program expansion at the college’s Niles Campus, and increased expenditures on college-wide security.”