The Barton Community College Board of Trustees reviewed preliminary numbers for next year’s budget on Tuesday, with Vice President of Administration Mark Dean noting they will have more information in a month. That isn’t unusual for this time of year but this year Kansas community colleges also have questions about cuts to federal programs.

The college hopes to receive $180,000 more from tuition than was budgeted in Fiscal Year 2025, based on a 5% growth rate, tuition increase, and tuition from Senate Bill 155, which allows high school  students to qualify for state-funded college tuition in approved technical courses. The FY 26 budget is for $13.272 million in tuition.

Revenue from taxes is expected to stay the same at $10.869 million. Miscellaneous revenue from interest, refunds and reimbursement are expected to be $861,200, or $128,000 more than last year.

However, total revenue in the FY 26 budget is $36.9 million, or $732,338 less than was budgeted last year, due to cuts in state aid. About $208,000 of the cuts are based on a three-year formula but another $832,562 in cuts are tentative, Dean said. These are in areas such as capital outlay, apprenticeships, student support and deferred maintenance.

Expenses are also expected to increase in all areas except salaries, where changes in positions will cost $159,504 less than last year. The budget for salaries is $20.7 million.

“Based on what we know today,” Dean said, the college is “approximately $1.4 million short of having a balanced budget based on last year.”

Barton President Dr. Marcus Garstecki said TRIO and federal workstudy could be hit by federal budget cuts. TRIO are federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Trump Administration wants to eliminate the program.

President Trump’s proposed FY 26 budget includes significant cuts to the U.S. Department of Education. In addition to TRIO, it could eliminate Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG).

The president's “skinny budget” for FY 26, released this month, is considered a policy blueprint.

“A lot in the skinny budget affects higher education,” Garstecki said. “This is a piece that Congress has to pass. It would ultimately defund TRIO and Adult Ed. The intent would be for the State to pick up the Adult Ed piece.”

Garstecki said he’s been reaching out to legislative staffers to share the long-term impact these cuts will have on students and on workforce development.

Board Chairman Mike Johnson said that based on what he’s seen, “there will be no appetite at the state level to pick up any of this.” He expects more state budget cuts next year.

Garstecki said TRIO “has a strong national group and there’s a lot of advocating going on.”

Vice President Angie Maddy agreed, adding, “They’ve been very successful. A couple of members of Congress are Trio alumni. It’s had bipartisan support.”

Garstecki concluded, “Our staff continue to push forward and do what they can.”