After the closure of the fiscal year on Oct. 24, NIC has collected its enrollment numbers for the year.
Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs Chris Martin said that NIC’s enrollment decrease was less than was anticipated.
“I’m very confident in what the fiscal year of ‘15 will hold.” said Martin.
For this fiscal year NICs enrollment was expected to drop by 10 percent. Instead, enrollment dropped by 8 percent.
Martin said that this gives them a larger budget pool to draw from.
Martin said that in addition to the higher enrollment numbers, there were very minimal areas where improvement could be made and that the improvements aren’t in need of abrupt consideration.
The areas that need improvement are vendor pay and budget transparency, along with some minor accounting improvements.
Soon NIC’s budget office will be going through their annual audit for fiscal year ‘14.
After the audit is complete it will be presented at an upcoming NIC board of trustees meeting sometime during November or December.
A recent arrival at NIC, Martin said the current budget had been well managed and that NIC as a whole, financially, has been acting as a well-oiled machine. Budgets are cared for, and kept in strict check to provide for the necessary education for our students. Our foundation is strong and well sustained.
“There is a lot of excitement that comes along with two year colleges. The budgets in place are for helping our students obtain the essential tool set to further themselves. There is an immense community involvement, and focus here,” Martin said.
Currently NIC is set to receive a 15 million budget to move forward on technical industries. This budget North Idaho College will receive is a stimulating thing, not raising anyone’s taxes, either. This is a major project that is heading well,” Martin said.
Currently NIC is preparing for construction for a new technical building. The building will house many professional-technical programs that need the additional space.
Martin said that, all in all, NIC’s standpoint is good, and that the college is currently in good hands.
“I am very confident going into fiscal year ‘15,” Martin said.
More information on the state of NIC’s budget will become available after the final report is given to the board of trustees within the next two months.
