JWCC Trustees approve tentative balanced budget with tuition freeze for fiscal year 2026

QUINCY — The John Wood Community College Board of Trustees approved a tentative $19.5 million balanced budget for the next fiscal year during its regular meeting Wednesday.

The tentative 2025–2026 year budget includes a zero-dollar increase in tuition and universal fees and projects a 6 percent bump in the number of credit hours delivered to JWCC students from the 2024-25 budget.

“This is the third straight year we have held the line on tuition,” JWCC President Bryan Renfro shared. “More than half of our students can attend at no cost through federal and state grant assistance and privately funded scholarships,” JWCC President Bryan Renfro said. “This achievement underscores our dedication to keeping tuition as low as possible, ensuring everyone can attend.”

Enrollment drives most of JWCC’s budget, as tuition and fees account for 44 percent of total revenue. Corporate and personal property taxes make up 39 percent, state funding 11 percent, and 6 percent is from facilities rentals and other sources.  

State funding is projected to decrease approximately 15 percent to $2,077,360, down from the previous fiscal year’s $2,454,961 budgeted amount.

JWCC lowered the local property tax rate from the previous year by approximately 1 cent per $100 EAV.  An increase in equalized assessed valuation for property in the district will result in an estimated $665,898 in operating revenue.

The 2026 budget will remain on display for 30 days for public review.  The budget will be formally adopted during the July Board meeting. 

In other business, the Board:

• Approved renewal of the United Way Partner agreement for Fiscal year 2026.
• Approved request of student account Write Offs for $52,177.45.
• Approved adoption of a $9 million bond level for the School Treasurer’s Bond with THE HARTFORD through the Illinois Community College Risk Management Consortium. 
• Approved authorization to enter into a one (1) year sublease agreement with the Regional Office of Education for space at the Southeast Education Center.
• Approved adoption of the 2025-2026 college catalog.
• Approved hiring a search firm to conduct the presidential search vacancy.
• Approved Letter of Employment Agreement for Interim President with Josh Welker.

The next meeting will be held Monday, July 28, at 6:00 p.m. at the JWCC Quincy campus.