1. Seattle Colleges home page
  2. Administration
  3. Budget Info
  4. FY2025 Budget Info
  5. FY2025 Budget: Overview and Resources

FY2025 Budget: Overview and Resources

This webpage contains overviews, background information, and resources related to Seattle Colleges FY2025 budget.

Listed below are sources of funds for Seattle Colleges.

State Allocation

The Washington State Legislature makes appropriations to State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) from the general fund and from special funds (e.g., Workforce Education Investment Act)

The SBCTC uses a model to disperse funds to the 34 community and technical colleges. The model has 5 elements

  1. Minimum Operating Allocation
  2. Base FTE Funding
  3. Enhanced FTE Funding
  4. Student Achievement Initiative
  5. Earmarks/Provisos

Tuition

The maximum tuition rate is set by state legislature. The revenue created depends on student enrollment.

Running Start Revenue

Running Start is a program that allows 11th and 12th grade students to take college courses at Washington's 34 community and technical colleges. Students earn both high school and college credits for these courses. Running Start students and their families do not pay tuition. They are responsible for mandatory fees, books and transportation. Students receive both high school and college credit for these classes, which accelerates their progress through the education system. It is funded by the K-12 state budget. For more info, see Seattle Colleges' Running Start website or go to the SBCTC Running Start website.

International Tuition Revenue

Seattle Colleges is an Student and Exchange Visitor Program certified institution meaning it is authorized by the U.S. government to enroll international students in college-level programs alongside domestic students. International students may also enroll in the Seattle Colleges Institute of English, which provides specialized English language training. International students pay a tuition rate that covers the full cost of attendance. For more info, see Seattle Colleges' International Programs website.

Grants

Federal, state, local, or private foundation programs (e.g., TRIO or Title III).

Other Local Funding

 

Self Support Programs (e.g., Community and Corporate Education)

 

For more information see the ctcLink Acounting Manual:Revenue Accounts.

Listed below are the general categories of expenses used by the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges:

  • Salaries and Wages
  • Employee Benefits
  • Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships
  • Supplies and Materials
  • Capital Expenditures
  • Purchased or Contract Services
  • Utilities
  • Depreciation
  • Other Expenses
  • Non-Operating Expenditures/Expenses

For more information, see ctcLink Accounting Manual: Expenditure/Expense Accounts.

The total operating budget initially approved by the Board of Trustees for fiscal-year 2025 (FY2025)—the 2024-2025 academic year—was $173.5 million.

After which, a fiscal year 2024 (FY2024) year-end close and analysis revealed that actual expenditures for FY2024 exceeded revenues by $16 million.

The FY2025 budget was then revised and increased to $199.7 million.

Taken together with the state allocation and revised projected revenues, Seattle Colleges anticipates a $30 million budget deficit for FY2025.

Budget Deficit Breakdown

Here's the budget deficit breakdown:

  • District Office and Districtwide Services: $14.2 million.
  • Seattle Central College: $8.9 million
  • North Seattle College: $3.9 million
  • South Seattle College: $3 million

About the FY2024 Budget

The deficit was identified in fall 2024 after a review of the FY2024 budget. 

A forensic-style analysis of our historical and in-progress FY2025 budgets revealed several items impacting the current budget scenario:

  • Lack of continuity in business practices following Seattle Colleges' 2021 ctcLink conversion.
  • Unrevised fiscal policies that ultimately become unstainable.
  • Inadequate methods for revenue projections that resulted in overestimation of actual revenue.
  • Inadequate budgetary controls, for example:
    • Some revenue was double-counted or not applied to the correct expense. This caused over and/or under spending in some accounts.
    • Absence of the critical tracking tools needed to inform ongoing budget management.

Seattle Colleges is approaching budget planning using the goals and strategies listed below.

As part of the decision-making process, executive leaders are seeking internal input on strategies and implementation.

Seattle Colleges Fiscal Goals and Strategies

  1. Live within our means
    1. Manage and reduce expenses.
    2. Generate and increase revenue.
    3. Improve systems.
  2. Maintain a prudent level of reserves
    1. Set up contingency, operating, and capital reserves.
    2. Approve a reserve plans that includes methods to replenish the reserve fund(s) if funds are used or targets are not met.
  3. Invest in the future
    1. Support for foundation workplans.
    2. Support for grants and partnerships.

For more information about budget strategies, go to FY2025 Budget Actions and Decisions webpage.
 

Seattle Colleges Winter Quarter Budget Townhall (February 10, 2025)

FY2025 Modified Budget Presentation to the Board of Trustees (February 13, 2025) | Board of Trustees Meeting Packet

FY 2025 Budget Messages Archive