Wenatchee Valley College is continuing to examine their operations after a $1 million projected budget deficit recently prompted the layoffs of 20 employees.

President Jim Richardson said one problem the college faces is that fact that they have no control over their own funding.

"That comes out of the legislature almost entirely." stated Richardson, "Our tuition is set by the legislature so those students who do pay tuition pay what they legislature says, so we can't raise that to help our budget. We can't run a bond or levy. We don't have that power because that's reserved for K-12."

Richardson added that one misconception within the community is that the college wasted funds by constructing a $37 million Wells Hall replacement.

"Capital funds that come from the state can not be used to run the college, to pay salaries, those types of things." Richardson explained, "They can only be used to build the building, and they only can be used to build the building they are designated for."

Wenatchee Valley College is focusing on student recruitment and retention to eventually right the ship.

Richardson added that most of the college's new programs have not been expensive to start. Those programs include their Bachelors of Applied Science programs and a teaching degree.

A new pharmacy tech program is opening that includes a partnership with Confluence Health. Confluence has agreed to pay half of the salary of the program's director.

The college has not looked at trimming any programs as of yet.

More From NewsRadio 560 KPQ