GCCC Facing Nearly $500,000 Impact to 2020-21 Budget
GCCC
[Garden City, KS] June 9, 2020 – Garden City Community College is facing a significant fiscal impact due to rising costs in maintaining its liability insurance coverage.
GCCC President Dr. Ryan Ruda told members of the Board of Trustees who met Tuesday that the institution’s annual premium and deductible would be increasing by approximately $494,000 compared to last year.
That is, GCCC must pay an annual premium of $325,000 and budget for deductible of $250,000 in the fiscal year ahead (July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021).
This compares to a 2019-20 premium and deductible of $30,549 and $50,000, respectively, according to the GCCC president.
“Our insurance broker sent the insurance proposal to over 50 companies to bid on our policy for this next year,” Dr. Ruda told trustees. “Out of 50, only one responded and submitted a proposal. This is due to the number of claims which have pushed GCCC to be designated as a high-risk category.”
In the wake of these severe fiscal impacts, Dr. Ruda said GCCC leadership has worked proactively in a short amount of time to find solutions and comprises without impacting current employees or their salaries.
“We have been extremely fortunate throughout this pandemic that we have not had to reduce or eliminate positions. We have retained every position,” he said. “This is something I consider to be of utmost importance in taking care of people.”
Dr. Ruda said at least $510,000 has been identified by GCCC leadership from the upcoming fiscal year budget through employee attrition, retirement, and resignations.
At least 11 open positions have been eliminated or put on hold to ensure cost savings, and an additional $40,000 in savings will also be achieved through reduction of athletic team travel in the academic year ahead, Dr. Ruda said.
Trustees will meet June 25 at 6 p.m. for a special retreat to discuss the 2020-21 budget. This public meeting will occur via Zoom and is accessible to the public at https://zoom.us/j/95685204638.
For more information visit https://www.gcccks.edu/events/
Athletic Training & Facility Updates
Board members who met Tuesday also heard updates about ongoing construction projects on campus.
These include renovation and remodel of the athletic training room inside the Dennis Perryman Athletic Complex and a maintenance and restroom facility at Broncbuster Stadium which will serve as a secondary training area for practices and game days and provide showering facilities for visiting athletes and officials.
Demolition on both projects began in April and will greatly improve facilities while also enhancing education and training practicum opportunities for students.
Dr. Ruda said both projects are on track for completion by the end of the summer.
“There’s been a lot of progress. As you know the DPAC athletic training room had not been updated since 1985,” Dr. Ruda told trustees. “This will be a great facelift for our students and allow them access to high-quality facilities.”
Trustees voted unanimously during their Tuesday meeting to approve a $64,194 bid to purchase athletic training room equipment to furnish both newly remodeled areas.
Garden City Community College exists to produce positive contributors to the economic and social well-being of society.
