MCC board approves budget

The Mesalands Community College board of trustees approved a 2024-2025 budget that projects the college still climbing its way out of red ink after financial troubles surfaced in late 2022 and early 2023.

The budget, which begins July 1, specifies $7.67 million in unrestricted revenue and $1.86 million in restricted revenue.

The 2024-2025 budget states the college’s ending balance starting at a $250,998 deficit at the end of the current fiscal year on July 1, with it being $162,270 in the red in June 2025. That would be an improvement of about $88,000.

Interim President Allen Moss said the budget includes state-mandated 3% pay raises for employees, of which the college has to pay 20% of that cost.

He said Mesalands also has to deal with a 33% increase in risk insurance premiums and a 15% hike in health insurance.

Moss noted its nursing program is the only one in the state operating without state Research and Public Service Projects funding.

“It’s very challenging to fit that budget right now,” he said.

However, Moss and board Chairman Richard Primrose each said the college’s cash balance remains steady or slightly higher.

“I’m comfortable with those numbers,” Primrose said.

Moss said the college is still trying to reconcile old accounts, including ADP payroll data.

He said Mesalands still is operating “fairly close to even.”

Overspending in 2022 and early 2023 jeopardized the college’s ability to even make payroll until it imposed pay cuts and program eliminations. Mesalands’ rapidly deteriorating financial condition and other problems led to no-confidence votes by the executive staff, faculty senate and staff senate against then-president Gregory Busch, who left town and later resigned.

Before the board approved budget adjustment requests for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, Moss credited Judy Scharmer and other business office employees for keeping the college “between the guardrails for the past six or seven months.”

Moss also said state auditors will be at the college this week. He said the forthcoming 2023 audit “will be better but not perfect.”

He added: “I know we’re getting into a better place.”

In other business:

— The board approved a $100 monthly lease with the Mesalands Community College Foundation for the vacant Alco building.

Moss said the foundation had planned to sell the building, but an offer fell through. He said the structure would be used for some storage. Its parking lot will continue to be used for commercial driver’s license testing.

— The board approved adding Rachelle Arias, the new director of business services, as a signatory for the college’s bank accounts. Arias is a former finance director for the City of Tucumcari.

— Moss said the college plans to add wind-energy training to course offerings to state correctional facilities. He said inmates who will be enrolled in the programs face imminent release, with many of them likely will be offered jobs in that field.

Joel Kiser, vice president of academic affairs, said the college will use simulators to satisfy laboratory and electrical requirements, then inmates will climb the college’s wind turbine to finish other requirements.

— Josh McVey, vice president of student affairs, said spring commencement will be at 6 p.m. May 10 at the Tucumcari High School auditorium. State Rep. Jack Chatfield will be the commencement speaker, and a total of 54 students will walk across the stage.

— Kiser mentioned the college’s 24th Iron Pour, slated for May 19-25, with the actual pour date scheduled for 1 p.m. May 24.

It will be the first time in three years Mesalands has hosted the Iron Pour because of COVID-19 restrictions and the college’s financial troubles last year.

— Moss stated in his president’s report that Paulita’s New Mexico is leaving its manufacturing site this month from the college’s armory building “due to a corporate decision.”

“While we will lose from revenue from the lease, we will maintain some improvements made by Paulita’s such as HVAC work.”

— Moss said Bo Segerman, an assistant rodeo coach at New Mexico State University, has been hired as Mesalands’ new head coach of the Stampede program. (See story in the Sports section.)

Moss said he was hopeful Segerman can “build back” its rodeo program.

Mesalands’ previous rodeo coach, Matt Hughes, resigned earlier this year to take a similar position at Missouri State University-West Plains, in his hometown.

— Moss said he’s scheduled to meet this week with new Tucumcari Public Schools superintendent Carl Marano. Moss said after speaking with Marano by phone, he said Marano “will be a positive thing” for the college.