20-15-310. Appropriation -- definitions. (1) It is the intent of the legislature that all community college spending, other than from restricted funds, designated funds, or funds generated by an optional, voted levy, be governed by the provisions of this part and the state general appropriations act.
     (2) (a) The state general fund appropriation must be determined as follows:
     (i) multiply the variable cost of education per student by the full-time equivalent student count and add the budget amount for the fixed cost of education; and
     (ii) multiply the total in subsection (2)(a)(i) by the state share.
     (b) The variable cost of education per student, the budget amount for fixed costs, and the state share must be determined by the legislature. The state share, expressed as a percentage, and the variable cost of education per student must be specified in the appropriations act appropriating funds to the community colleges for each biennium.
     (3) The student count may not include those enrolled in community service courses as defined by the board of regents.
     (4) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:
     (a) "Adjusted cost of education" means the cost of education minus any reversion calculated under 17-7-142, expenditures from one-time-only legislative appropriations, and expenditures funded by local mill levies provided for in 2-9-212 and 20-9-501 in excess of the 2012 mill levy levels.
     (b) "Cost of education" means the actual costs incurred by the community colleges during the budget base fiscal year, as reported on the current unrestricted operating fund schedule that is statutorily required to be submitted to the board of regents.
     (c) "Fixed cost of education" means that portion of the adjusted cost of education, as determined by the legislature, that is not influenced by increases or decreases in student enrollment.
     (d) "Variable cost of education per student" means that portion of the adjusted cost of education, as determined by the legislature, that is subject to change as a result of increases or decreases in student enrollment, divided by the actual student enrollment during the budget base fiscal year.

     History: En. Sec. 2, Ch. 495, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 494, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 493, L. 2007; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 3, L. 2013.