WESSON — Like primary and secondary school districts across thestate, Copiah-Lincoln Community College officials are making plansfor dealing with state funding uncertainties.

Trustees Thursday authorized the school’s administration toprepare a 2005 budget once the legislature determines funding forstate community and junior colleges. The administration was alsogiven permission to increase tuition by up to $100 a semester tocover any losses in the revenue stream.

“The one thing we know is what we don’t know,” said Dr. SteveWells, chairman of the board’s Budget and Finance Committee.

When revenue is not known, Wells said it is difficult to preparea budget.

House and Senate lawmakers earlier this week agreed to extendthe budget deadline to Sunday. Co-Lin President Dr. Howell Garnersaid that is a positive sign.

“I think they are trying to work through to a solution…,”Garner said. “We think they will do something by this weekend.”

If so, Garner said the school should have a “ball park” idea ofits funding level for the new year that starts July 1.

After funding is determined, trustees could act on budgetrecommendations at their June meeting. Garner and Wells left openthe possibility of calling a special trustees meeting should theschool’s budget contingencies be insufficient to address therevenue situation.

“There is a worst-case scenario this wouldn’t cover,” Wellssaid.

Wells said that would entail Co-Lin receiving less money nextyear than it did in 2003. He also acknowledged a scenario in whichlawmakers cannot agree on funding and would have to be called backfor special session.

Wells said a Legislative Budget Recommendation would mean anapproximately $795,000 decrease in funding for next year. Officialswere hopeful that any reduction would not be that severe.

“I think even a best case scenario is we’re going to have lessthan this year,” Wells said.

Regarding budget issues, Wells said a projected 3 percentincrease in enrollment would be about $137,000 more for theschool.

Dual enrollment involving high school students and a yearbookcharge could provide a few more dollars, and limiting travel andposition movements could produce some savings, Wells said.Utilities and equipment-related expenses are variables, headded.

During an executive session, trustees approved offeringcontracts to school personnel for the upcoming year. The contractsare contingent on the school receiving state funding at at leastthe fiscal year 2003 level.

Trustees also went into executive session Thursday to discusspotential litigation related to the new Simpson County educationalfacility.

Trustees voted to seek an Attorney General’s opinion regardingits procedures during the bid process. Garner and board attorneyJohn Henley said there some “irregularities” in the bidadvertisement process, although they did not elaborate.

The college received eight bids on facility construction,ranging from $4.04 million to $4.39 million. Based on the AG’sopinion, the board could move forward by awarding the contract tothe lowest and bid or it could reject all bids and re-advertise,according to a resolution approved by trustees.