16 April 2014
Improved Economy Means Less Revenue at LCC
A budget shortfall at Lane Community College could turn into layoffs and reduced class offerings next year.
The two-year school is facing a loss in funding of somewhere between 11-and-12.5-million dollars next year because of an improving economy.
When times are tough, enrollment at community colleges usually spikes; bringing with it increased tuition and fees. When people start going back to work, enrollment falls; in this case, by about 30-percent over the last four years.
LCC has also been faced with reduced revenues from the state. A dozen years ago, tuition made up about 22 percent of the school’s overall budget. It now makes up about 42-percent as state support continues to erode.
Administrators, the LCC Board and Budget Committee will be looking at ways to trim costs in the coming months. Most of the cuts required to do that will fall on the main campus in Eugene.
Cost of Driving Continues to Rise
Two weeks ago industry analysts said the cost of driving had likely leveled off for the year as gas prices seemed to have reached their springtime peak.
That was two weeks ago.
The average cash price for a gallon of regular gasoline in Florence this week jumped by seven cents a gallon; it’s now at $3.62.
That mirrors the rise in the national average as measured by Triple A, which increased by a nickel this week to $3.65.
The local average still remains well below the average price in the rest of the state. That jumped by seven cents a gallon and is at $3.76.
Boston Pops, Royal Philharmonic, Eugene Symphony and Siuslaw High School
The Eugene Symphony will be on stage Friday evening at the Florence Events Center to present works by Sibelius, Schumann, and Mendelssohn.
The symphony will be joined by guest conductor Grant Llewellyn, who has conducted the Boston Pops, the Boston Symphony and the Royal Philharmonic.
It will also be joined by several musicians from Siuslaw High School who have been working with the symphony recently. They’ll present three classical works on stage prior to the performance.
It’s all presented by Seacoast Entertainment Association. Tickets are available at the FEC box office. They’re $30 for adults, $10 for students.
Shred Papers… and yard debris
Security experts say one of the best ways to prevent identity theft is to shred important, but no-longer-needed papers that may have sensitive information like social security and account numbers.
Environmental experts say that’s also a very good way to get rid of yard debris.
You can do both this Saturday.
Oregon Pacific Bank will hold its 7th annual Shred Day Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Florence branch. It’s free to anyone; documents will be shredded on site and the remains will be recycled.
City Public Works crews will be at the north end of the airport, off 27th Street, also on Saturday, from 9 AM to 2 PM accepting trimmings and yard debris for shredding. There is a cost for that. It ranges between $10 for a standard pickup or small utility trailer and up to $20 for the largest.
