By Steven Stilt
The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees approved a 2027 fiscal year budget on Monday evening that carries a smaller projected surplus than the tentative budget approved in August.
According to KC Vice President of Administrative Services Sara Hanks, the revised budget still projects to end up with a surplus of just shy of $137,000 in the operating funds, compared to the previous projection of a $457,000 surplus. The revised projection is due in part to a decrease of around $344,000 in anticipated tuition and fee revenues, based on a slight dip in enrollment so far this school year.
However, KC President George Evans says the plateau in enrollment isn’t cause for alarm, and says he is pleased to have a budget with close projections in terms of expenses and revenues.
“It’s also in fairness to everybody who is a taxpayer out there that we’re not running a giant surplus, expenditures or expended revenues,” Evans said. “We’re trying to get down to that real close dollar amount to make sure that we are just spending what we need as an institution and doing so very fiscally responsible.”
Kaskaskia College saw a surplus of more than $900,000 during the 2026 fiscal year, which ended on June 30th.
Also during Monday’s meeting, the board of trustees accepted the retirement of Kellie Henegar, KC’s dean of arts and sciences, effective July 1st of next year. Evans commented that Henegar has served KC through adverse circumstances including a budget impasse and the COVID-19 pandemic and has been “a true champion” for the school.
In other personnel items, the board accepted the retirement of Systems Manager Michael Stone, approved the resignations of Human Resources Business Partner Jyron Oliver and Assistant Professor of Construction Occupations Caleb Willman, and approved the employment of Robin Sanders as accounting assistant.
