Maybe we'll sign my book.

Yes, and she's always known to wear purple purple environments.

This meeting is being recorded and summarized.

Good morning, everybody.

I hope all is well on this occasion this morning.

Uh today is July 20th.

It's 1008 a.m.

I'm Legislator Woodson Samuels, and I'll be opening up the budget and appropriations committee this morning.

I'll start by facilitating a roll call vote.

I'm present, leader Holstein.

Legislative non-bion.

Okay, legislative peers.

Majority Williams.

Legislative Williams Johnson.

And Chairman Gashi.

Okay.

Well, as stated, we are open now at 1009 AM.

And we are here to discuss the WCC 2026-2027 budget.

We obviously have some guests with here with us here this morning.

So Dr.

Miles, if you can introduce yourself for the record, volunteer team.

Thank you.

And then we'll pivot to the budget department.

Thank you.

Good morning.

Legislators, finance committee.

I'm Dr.

Belinda Miles, president of SUNY Westchester Community College.

Delighted to be here with several of my key team members.

Our new CFO, who you may not have had the opportunity to meet, uh Miss Jackie Clark.

And uh she will be uh presenting highlights from the budget.

You've met um Garrett McAllister previously, who is our CIO, and uh Lamont Watson, who is our chief facilities officer.

And so we're a little scarce because we did approve a few vacations this summer, but we'll hold it down for the for the team and uh hope hopefully we'll be able to address any issues that or questions that you have.

But it's our pleasure to present uh uh this year's budget to you.

And so if you'd like us to jump right in.

It was uh for the record budget department uh yes Michael Donna Senior Bush for our Westchester County.

Yeah, and Christina at Patton Deputy Budget Director.

Thank you both for joining us.

Wonderful.

With that, I'm going to turn it over to Jackie.

We have some highlights from the budget book, which uh I believe you all received maybe very recently, but we are going to have gotten it to you, and it um the speaker highlights of um our standing in the county and what our um overall budget is, and we'll move through it uh quickly.

Ethan, I actually took the pleasure of having giving Ethan a copy so he can upload it so you can follow along in your book.

So we'll set that up for sure.

It's behind us.

Okay, every thing.

Okay, thank you.

It's a pleasure to meet some of you for the first time, some of you again.

Um, and thank you for your continued partnership and investment in SUNY Westchester Community College.

Today's presentation will focus on how the proposed 26-27 budget supports students, employers, and the long-term economic vitality of Westchester County.

We're committed to maintaining access, affordability, and educational quality despite significant fiscal pressures.

Next next slide.

Okay.

WCC serves more than 24,000 students annually through credit and non-credit programs.

We we remain one of the largest community colleges in the SUNY system and operate the largest ESL program in New York State outside of New York City.

Nearly 40% of our students receive need-based aid, demonstrating the critical role we play in educational access and social mobility.

And the WCC Foundation's projected $4 million in scholarships help ensure that financial barriers do not prevent students from pursuing their goals.

Westchester Community College is simply not an educational institution.

It is an economic engine.

The college contributes approximately $585 million annually to the regional economy and supports nearly 5,800 jobs.

80% of our graduates remain in Westchester, strengthening the local workforce and tax base.