Kyle Magin of The Union had a piece yesterday looking at the budget prognosis for Sierra College.

Sierra Community College District trustees laid off seven employees this week as they grapple with a more than $2 million deficit heading into next year.

And, for a second straight year, the college will depend heavily on reserves to balance sagging revenues in its general fund budget.

The school’s board of directors voted in a Tuesday meeting at Truckee to lay off the seven employees in the next school year. In addition, 13 additional positions will remain unfilled as employees retire.

The college is expected to dip into its $9.2 million reserve fund to help bridge the deficit gap, a trustee said. Next year’s proposed budget is about $90 million, down from $92.6 million this year.

“We built those reserves for a reason,” said Aaron Klein, who represents Nevada City on the college’s board. “We built them to weather a fiscal storm and, instead, ended up with a hurricane.”

Last year the board approved about $2.4 million in reserves to shore up the budget and could use close to $2 million more next year. The board didn’t eliminate any faculty positions this year, instead cutting mainly support staff at the school’s main campus in Rocklin.

Further cuts could come if the governor’s revised budget, released today, includes additional reductions to community college funding.

“Nobody is saying anything until Friday,” said Sue Michaels, a college spokeswoman. “We hope there won’t be more cuts, but (the legislature) is in a tight spot.”

The laid-off employees could find other jobs within the college, Michaels said.

‘More stability’ needed

But the college needs to wean itself from relying on its reserves, Klein said.

“I’d like to see our budget have more stability, and get back to a balanced budget by 2011-12,” Klein said.

Staffing levels won’t change at Sierra College’s Nevada County campus, but they won’t grow, either, said Dean Stephanie Ortiz.

“We will have a very, very trim staff,” Ortiz said. If unexpected staff absences occur, no money is available to fill positions temporarily, Ortiz said. “Sierra College needs to be careful and prudent with all of its resources. We’re committed to providing the appropriate levels of service, given the district’s fiscal situation.”

He also reported on this news:

Sierra Community College District Trustee Bill Martin has announced his retirement after his term expires this year. He has represented the Auburn area on the board since 2006.

Martin’s is one of four seats on the board of trustees up for election this November, including two in Nevada County.

Grass Valley representative Nancy Palmer told The Union in April she would seek a fifth term this fall. Other seats up for election include Dave Ferrari’s Truckee-Tahoe position and Board President Barbara Vineyard’s Lincoln seat.

And on top of all of that, NCC commencement was last night and Rocklin campus commencement is tonight. Busy week at Sierra College!