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Steamboat Springs — Declining revenue has forced Colorado Mountain College to cut next year's budget and consider increasing tuition.

CMC's budget had to be trimmed from $62.6 million this year to $61.2 million for the 2009-10 school year.

"It's something we don't have a lot of choice about," President Stan Jensen said Monday.

He said the budget shortfall is largely the result of a 30 to 40 percent decline in property taxes from the oil and gas industry, 73 percent of the community college's revenue.

Jensen said he expects funding from the state Legislature, about 13 percent of CMC's revenue, to also take a hit. And tuition, the final revenue source, is expected to stay flat, but the college could look there to make up some lost dollars.

He said an increase could be as high as 9 to 10 percent for all students but that if it happens, it wouldn't take effect until the spring semester begins in January.

In-district students pay $45 per credit hour, while out-of-district, in-state students pay $75 per credit hour. Out-of-state students pay $235 per credit hour.

"It's not that huge of a pocket expense for students," he said. "We'll still be, by far, the best value in Colorado."

Jensen said the tuition increase could be spread across the board or it could vary depending on resident status. But he said a decision wouldn't be made until the fall, after the state's revenue forecast and updated property valuations are released.

Jensen said measures have been taken to trim expenditures, including reducing travel and instituting a hiring freeze.

He said savings from previous investments, including installing solar panels on buildings in Glenwood Springs, Breckenridge and Aspen, should reduce energy costs by 20 percent.

The budget concerns haven't forced the community college to delay budgeted capital expenditures, Jensen said.

CMC is moving forward with plans for a new building at the Alpine campus in Steamboat Springs at a cost of $200,000. Jensen said construction of that building isn't likely for another three years.

In the future, Jensen said new buildings constructed on any of CMC's 11 campus sites would include energy-saving features to help cut costs.

Despite a year over year enrollment increase of nearly 800 students - bringing the total to more than 24,000 - Jensen said CMC is developing new marketing strategies to boost enrollment, especially from out of state.

He said this year, the community college's students came from 46 states and more than 20 countries.

"There's great things ahead for Colorado Mountain College," Jensen said. "We'll continue to look for ways to make our operation for effective and more efficient, while continuing to increase what we provide to students. Despite the economy, we're serving more students than ever in increasingly more effective ways."

- To reach Jack Weinstein, call 871-4203 or e-mail jweinstein@steamboatpilot.com.