POUGHKEEPSIE – Fewer students are expected Dutchess County’s
two-year college this fall, and they will pay a bit more to be there.
The county legislature approved the new budget following a public hearing
Monday night.
Despite the tuition increase, most who spoke were in favor of the budget.
That included parents, some students, and two faculty members.
Joanne Halsey, a 27-year math teacher and current president of Dutchess
United Educators, likes the budget and the new college leadership that
put it together.
“Under Pamela Eddington, there’s a new transparency at the
college and do supports the emerging process of creating thought-filled
budgets that speak directly to our strategic plan centered around student
success,” Halsey said.
Another faculty member, Associate History Professor Dr. Laura Murphy,
also supported the current budget but was concerned about possible underfunding
going forward.
“Spending less on community colleges by reducing the number of faculty
and support staff makes colleges less efficient, not more,” Murphy
said, arguing the end result is fewer students completing their degrees.
That was a point picked up by County Legislator Joel Tyner, one of four
legislators, all Democrats, to vote against the budget. He called the
budget “immoral.” He would have rather had the county contribute
more to keep tuition down.
That choice of words offended Republican Marge Horton.
“Mr. Tyner, yes, has been here 13 years, but he is not the only
one that worries about the students,” Horton said. “I have
a problem, after sitting here 14 years, to be told that I am partaking
in an ‘immoral’ decision. That’s really upsetting and
I’d like the record to show that.”
Horton agreed with what Halsey, and others had said earlier about the
openness of this year’s budget presentations.
The budget approved by the legislature on a 17-4 vote will increase tuition
by $168 for the new 2016-17 academic year.
