Eduardo J. Padrón
President
Office of the President
300 N.E. Second Avenue
Miami, Florida 33132-2297
305-237-3316
epadron@mdc.edu
Message From the President
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
MDC Confronts Serious Financial Challenge
Over many years, the people of MDC - faculty, staff and students - have built an enduring legacy of teaching and learning. But it seems we face an almost equally persistent financial challenge to preserve and grow the quality of our work. This is one of those times when we need to pull together to meet a very serious challenge.
All of us are aware that the State of Florida has been experiencing a major shortfall in revenues. We have now been officially notified of the extent to which our current operating budget must be reduced, and the news is not good.
The College's total budget reduction for this year will amount to $9 million. In addition, we have 3,110 unfunded FTEs, which adds up to an additional $11.3 million.
This creates a very serious situation for us and the prospects for the fiscal year that begins July 1 are even more ominous. We have begun to identify ways to ameliorate the impact of these reductions while protecting our personnel and essential services. Many of the measures we have already implemented to contain costs will serve us well.
In the days ahead we will be working with the leaderhship of the various constituencies of the College to seek help and advice. As we identify the necessary steps, each of us will have an important role to play in meeting the challenges ahead. As always, together we will overcome and emerge stronger.
Thank you.
Eduardo