Board of Trustees Approves 2021-2022 Budget

The SUNY Erie Community College (SUNY Erie) Board of Trustees today approved an operating budget of $102,746,397 for fiscal year 2021-2022.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has committed an additional $1.0 million in permanent operational funding to the College to ensure that tuition costs will not increase. Full-time tuition rates will stay at $5,047 per year and part-time tuition costs will remain at $211 per credit hour.

“We are incredibly grateful to the County Executive for continuing to support the students of SUNY Erie. The additional funds will enable our students’ access to a quality education without any additional financial burden,” said Danise Wilson, Chairwoman of the SUNY Erie Board of Trustees.

Erie County’s annual contribution to the College will increase to $19.8 million with the additional commitment.

“By increasing the county’s support of SUNY Erie by $1 million annually, we are not only preventing a tuition increase from occurring but are investing in the future of the college. Keeping tuition costs under control means that more students will be able to pursue their educational dreams and ultimately find jobs in their chosen fields. An educated and able workforce is a great advertisement for Erie County’s workforce and is attractive to employers everywhere. I thank President William Reuter and the College’s Board of Trustees for working with my office to ensure a budget could be passed that did not increase tuition, thereby making it harder for more students to attend college,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

SUNY Erie enrolled 8,418 students for the fall 2020 semester, down from the prior year due in large part to pandemic conditions limiting the college’s ability to offer in person classes. Nearly 92.5 percent of SUNY Erie’s students come from within Erie County and approximately 98 percent are residents of New York State.

"The historic increase in funding from the County will be a tremendous help as we move past the pandemic conditions of the past year,” said Bill Reuter, Interim President of SUNY Erie. “For our part, we will continue to examine areas where we can achieve growth through new programs and initiatives to meet industry demand, as well as improve our student experience. SUNY Erie values the partnership, commitment and support of the Erie County Executive and Erie County Legislature.”

The college budget must now be approved by the Erie County Legislature.