College Trustees approve balanced budget, highlight strategic investments

The Sheridan College (SC) Board of Trustees approved a budget during their regular meeting Tuesday night that administrative officials described as balanced and fiscally conservative. The budget is for fiscal year 2027, which runs July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

The $40.2 million operating budget reflects a $227,186 surplus, according to Vice President for Administration and Chief Financial Officer Craig Achord.

The budget also reflects employee compensation and strategic investments as top priorities of the Board of Trustees and the administration. “We are a people-focused organization, and this budget allows us to continue moving employee compensation forward while investing in initiatives that strengthen how we serve our students, communities, and employers,” said SC President, Dr. Walt Tribley.

The budget includes a step pay increase for faculty and a three percent increase in salary for all employees making less than $100,000 per year. Those employees earning more than that amount will receive a one percent increase and the President will not receive a compensation increase, according to Achord.

Approximately 60 percent of the operating budget is dedicated to salaries and benefits, making operational efficiency essential to supporting new initiatives and long-term sustainability.

“We are focused on the right priorities,” Tribley said. “We are delivering high-quality, affordable education, leveraging on-campus housing to connect students with our regional economy, and expanding opportunities through our new four-year degree program.”

The budget also includes key one-time investments, such as the renovation and expansion of the Science Center and the construction of the SC in Johnson County Center for Higher Education, in partnership with the Sheridan College Foundation.

“These are strategic investments that will benefit students for generations to come,” Tribley said.