Community colleges react with 'shock, outrage'

The one-year funding loss for the upcoming biennium ranges from $375,000 for Ranger Community College to $15.8 million for Dallas Community College, said the TACC executive.

Garcia said the association and its members are working with legislators to "see what our options are." Among those options could be action by the Legislative Budget Board or an emergency appropriation by the legislature at the start of the next legislative session. If the funding is not allocated by the state, community colleges have three choices or any combination of the three, according to Garcia - increase tuition, increase taxes or cut services.

Perry's veto statement that said community colleges could absorb the nearly $150 million cut was called "folly" by community college officials. The issue will be a hot topic of conversation when TACC holds its association meeting in July, said Garcia.