Budget seeks to improve utility costs, negotiations still in progress

 

While the MHCC budget process nears completion with a new utility savings added into next year’s plan, employee contract negotiations remain unfinished.

Director of Communications Maggie Huffman said that the 2013-14 budget for Fund 06 – physical plant maintenance – was adjusted to reflect the impact of this new project, as well as its future  impact on operations and debt service costs in the General Fund.

Huffman said there “have not been any significant changes to the budget except for the recent board approval of the JCI capital improvement project.

“This project would achieve energy efficiencies and cost savings through increased upgrades and enhancements to HVAC (heating/cooling) systems and exterior lighting,” she added.

As for employee contract negotiations, Huffman said, “We continue to make good progress and have reached tentative agreements on a number of articles. The college has received information on revisions to healthcare plans for the full-time faculty and classified employees, which will move the discussion forward.”

Huffman said that the Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB) has restructured the health plans offered, resulting in lower than projected premium increases that could impact the MHCC budget picture.

Contract talks have avoided the raw emotions seen in recent years, officials say.

Huffman said, “We are working in an environment that is collegial, open, transparent with open lines of communication.”

Marilyn Pitts, president of the part-time faculty and tutors association, said, “Negotiations continue to be collegial and professional.

“The PFTA and College have been negotiating since early March. There are a total of nineteen articles in the PFTA contract, and we now have tentative agreements on eleven of those articles,” Pitts said.

“In two previous negotiations, it took 18 months to reach agreement. If we’re able to conclude the negotiations by the hoped-for June 30 date, this would be a much faster process,” Pitts said.

By Oregon law, the local Tax Supervising and Conservation Commission (TSCC) will hold a hearing June 12 to review and approve the budget.