Letter from MCCCD Chancellor Gonzales

Dear Colleagues,

In January, MCCCD leadership presented a new budget allocation model to the Governing Board as part of the FY2026 General Fund budget. This model was developed by the Advisory Budget Council last fall and represents a significant step forward in equitably funding all ten of our colleges, aligning our resources where our students are, and ensuring that we remain focused on their success while supporting the needs of our faculty and staff.

Moving forward, we want to assure you of our commitment to a collaborative process. We understand that some adjustments may be challenging, but as a system, we remain dedicated to protecting our greatest resources—our faculty and staff. By implementing this model gradually over five years, we aim to minimize impacts and allow for thoughtful planning, robust discussions, and incremental adjustments. It’s also important to note that the budget snapshot is based on today’s enrollment and resources currently available, and incremental adjustments will occur as student populations shift over time, providing the flexibility needed to serve our students. Lastly, but equally important, “bridge” funding will be available if needed to help colleges transition gradually to new budget levels.

Guided by our strategic priorities and shared governance principles, the Shared Governance Executive Committee (SGEC) has established the Strategic Budget Reallocation (SBR) Task Force to establish a unified and consistent approach across our system. This task force will meet regularly, provide ongoing updates, and ensure the following principles guide its work:

• Prioritizing the retention of valued employees serving critical roles and supporting their growth

• Utilizing available resources, including vacancies and unexpended funds, to thoughtfully manage budget adjustments

• Exploring voluntary transitions as a proactive approach to staffing changes 

• Identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency while supporting long-term sustainability

• Strengthening open dialogue to allow for informed decision-making

The task force will make sure that internal processes are informed by stakeholder feedback, communicated, and followed while also ensuring that decisions are made with a holistic and consistent approach.

We understand that change brings questions. We are committed to ongoing conversations, feedback, and dialogue with our colleges and teams to ensure we navigate these changes together—as a unified system, not just as individual colleges.

Thank you for your dedication to our mission and the success of our students. Your engagement and collaboration are essential as we take these next steps together.

Sincerely, 

Steven 

On behalf of the Presidents of the Maricopa Community Colleges:

Dr. CJ Wurster, Chandler-Gilbert Community College

Dr. Rey Rivera, Estrella Mountain Community College

Dr. Amy Diaz, GateWay Community College

Dr. Tiffany Hernandez, Glendale Community College

Dr. Richard C. Daniel, Mesa Community College

Dr. Jana Schwartz, Paradise Valley Community College

Dr. Kimberly Britt, Phoenix College

Dr. Kate Smith, Rio Salado College

Dr. Eric Leshinskie, Scottsdale Community College

Ms. Veronica Hipolito, South Mountain Community College