by Steven Stilt
The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees on Monday evening approved a Fiscal Year 2026 budget that carries a projected deficit, but college officials say that shortfall is likely to decrease as the fiscal year unfolds.
The budget contains projected revenues across all funds totaling just under $58 million, with projected expenditures of approximately $58.4 million for all funds. However, KC President George Evans says that due to the way the budget is mapped out, the final deficit is likely to end up significantly smaller.
“We always budget conservatively. We also figure expenditures on the heavy side, and that deficit you saw tonight is if we filled all positions and we purchased every piece of equipment, and all individuals took family coverage for health insurance. The odds of that coming to fruition is very, very minimal, so I anticipate this time next year that we’ll probably be finishing up with a zero deficit.”
In personnel items, the board accepted the retirement of associate professor of computer information technology Angenien Huffstutler. Trustees approved the employment of Paige Stamps as Trenton Education Center evening coordinator and Brittany Hunter as WEI coach and workforce partnership coordinator.
Trustees also heard on Monday from Ben Frazier, CEO of the Family YMCA of Fayette County. The YMCA currently leases around 8 acres of property from KC, which sits near the college’s Vandalia campus, and Frazier asked the board to consider amending that lease agreement to include approximately 10 more acres for a park development. Evans says such an arrangement could be a win-win for the Y as well as the college.
“That would tie in very nicely to the college’s landscape and the institution with the hopes of, as Ben mentioned tonight, really drawing attention and traffic to both of our entities. From them, from a public service standpoint … from us from an educational standpoint, where we can meet them in the middle. So (we’re) looking forward to seeing what their official proposal is.”
No formal action was taken on the YMCA’s request on Monday night.
