Lanier second-fastest growing tech school in state

ATLANTA - Georgia's technical colleges saw an enrollment gain this fall of 8 percent.

A few technical colleges saw dips, but most had gains, led by West Georgia Technical College in LaGrange, which had a 38 percent increase, and Lanier Tech, which has campuses in Hall, Forsyth and Barrow counties, with a 32 percent jump.

Officials at Georgia's technical schools are facing soaring enrollment at the same time they are confronted with the same budget cut demands as other state agencies.

Some campuses have had increases as great as a third of the student body.

``The market far exceeds our ability to provide services,'' said Ken Breeden, commissioner of the Department of Technical and Adult Education.

The long-term economic outlook in Georgia will be the subject of a conference of lawmakers at the University of Georgia today.

The state revenue commissioner reported Monday that for the first five months of the fiscal year, which began July 1, collections are down $276 million, or 5.2 percent, against the same period of fiscal 2002.

Last month, Gov. Roy Barnes announced 2 percent cutbacks, the latest in a series of moves over the past year designed to deal with the revenue downturn. For the first time, those cuts included K-12 school instruction. Earlier reductions had included technical schools and universities.

College, technical school and public schools already account for more than half of the state's $16 billion budget. During the economic boom of the 1990s, there was no problem paying for education.

The enrollment growth in colleges and technical schools means, under the state's funding formula, they should get an additional $130 million. But that doesn't mean the formula followed by previous administrations must be followed by that of Gov.-elect Sonny Perdue.

``To the best of my knowledge, it's based on what (money) is available,'' said House budget chairman Terry Coleman, D-Eastman.

Senate Appropriations Chairman George Hooks, D-Americus, said not providing the increased formula funding for technical schools would be particularly harmful in a slow economy because the agency provides the type of training that leads to jobs.

``You have an agency that generates economic development. That should be one of the first things we fund. It needs to be a top priority,'' Hooks said.