Citrus College to Raise Tuition Fees

As public education continues to face deep budget cuts following last year’s underperforming tax revenues, Citrus College will raise its tuition fees to $46 a unit this summer.

Last year, fees were raised from $26 a unit to $36.

Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax increase proposal would impose a temporary half-cent sales tax hike and levy higher taxes on individual earners making $250,000 or more. Brown insists that public education would be spared from further cuts if his tax proposal is approved.

If not, community colleges will face an estimate $264 million reduction.

As state dollars continue to dwindle, Citrus College has been forced to reduce its enrollment from 13,000 students to 10,000 students.

Citrus President Dr. Geraldine Perri said if the tax proposal does not go through, the college will reduce its enrollment by 200, falling below 10,000 students.

“If you take a snapshot of Citrus College on opening day of the semester, it’s at over 100 percent capacity,” said Perri while speaking during her State of the City address. “Our faculty members are taking in students well beyond the capacity. Very often, the capacity in a class is 30-35. We find 50 in the class and faculty just can’t turn them away.”

The college has also dealt with budget cuts through hiring freezes. Staff reduction has taken place through attrition, retirements and reduction of part-time, on call staff.

Dr. Perri said the college has been fortunate in receiving federal grants to help make up for the scarce funds.

Last year, the college received $8 million in grants to help fund the STEM program, support teacher training and attract more women into the physics, engineering and mathematics fields.

Despite the lagging resources, Perri said the college is looking forward to building a new fine arts building, the last project of its Measure G funds.

The college celebrated the grand opening of its $22.7 million Student Services Building in September 2011.