This blog has chronicled in many posts the financial issues involved in the management of Erie Community College (aka SUNY Erie). With an annual budget of more than $105 million and a heavy investment of public funds in the institution, it’s an important question.

Like most other colleges in Western New York, ECC has struggled with declining enrollments. Reasons include a smaller pipeline of students in the area and a healthy economy. There’s not much that can be done with the area’s demographics. And a healthy local economy should be cheered, even though historically enrollment drops when people have jobs and are less in need of boosting their educational credentials. Continue reading →