Budget Reality & the Fight for the Future of City College

Dear City College Community,

City College is the largest and most accessible source of workforce training and higher ed degrees in San Francisco–that is a mission worthy of effective leadership.

Leadership means not performing for the press. It means not perpetuating inaccurate and damaging ‘doom loop’ narratives about our college and city for political or professional gain.

Leadership is facing facts, and working with communities to solve problems on the basis of those facts. That’s how you stand up for the good of our city and students, and that work starts with a basic understanding of City College’s finances.

Over the past 3 years, AFT 2121 has developed its own budget projections and analysis, which have been far more accurate than those from CCSF’s administration. See our latest analysis here, and below for highlights:

• In 2023-24, City College is projected to to have a $5 million surplus, and reserves of $24.1 million or 12% of total spending

• Over the next 5 years, we project City College to run a series of surpluses, and to end 2028 with net reserves of $52.6 million or 25.95% of total spending

The fact is that City College is fiscally stable–what it needs is leadership with a better vision for the future than unnecessary downsizing and austerity. City College needs to invest in our in-demand programs, from Nursing to Construction, so our college and city can prosper together.

In 2025, City College’s funding will change–the end of ‘Hold Harmless’ means CCSF revenue will be frozen at 2025 levels until we can grow enrollment enough to be funded under the state’s new funding formula. Over the past two years, short-sighted cuts mean that our college has turned away thousands of students from programs such as Computer Networking, English, and Construction.

For the good of our city and the long term finances of our college, this has to change. We are in a crucial time right now–investing in strategic enrollment growth over the next two years will bring key long term funding returns and ensure we’re again meeting San Francisco’s demand. That’s why AFT 2121 has launched an enrollment campaign, and it’s why we’re again sharing with you our annual analysis of the state of the college’s present and future finances.

Stay tuned for more, and in unity,

AFT 2121