Blinn College administrators presented a proposed Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget of $105 million to the Board of Trustees during a workshop held Tuesday.

The final budget will be brought before the board at the June 16, 2020, regular meeting.

Blinn administrators developed the proposed budget to adapt to the impacts of COVID-19. The proposed budget represents a 12.4% decrease compared to Fiscal Year 2019-20 and accounts for anticipated decreases in state funding, enrollment, and housing and food service revenue, among others.

To accommodate reduced revenues, the College is implementing a district-wide, flexible hiring freeze. The proposed budget includes reduced travel expenditures and reductions in all departmental budgets.

Richard Cervantes, Vice Chancellor for Business/CFO, said that Blinn’s financial management in recent years has placed the College in a strong fiscal position to weather the challenges of the current pandemic.

The proposal includes a potential salary increase for full-time faculty and staff.

“Our employees are the heart and soul of Blinn College,” said Dr. Mary Hensley, Chancellor of the Blinn College District. “They have gone above and beyond this semester to help our students navigate unprecedented circumstances, and we believe this budget will allow us to recognize that excellence while adapting to the challenges presented by COVID-19.”

During the board’s regular meeting, it authorized the College to:

  • negotiate and execute a contract with AHI Facility Services, Inc., for custodial services on the Brenham Campus academic, administrative, and student services buildings as well as the Bryan and RELLIS Campuses, and to negotiate and execute a contract with Southeast Service Corp. for custodial services on the Brenham Campus student housing facilities;
  • seek proposals for furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the Brenham Campus science, technology, engineering, and innovation building;
  • and negotiate and execute a contract with M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates for the development of a districtwide facilities master plan.