NORMAL - Heartland Community College trustees OK'd a tentative 2010 budget, but uncertainty in Springfield means the document is only a guess at this point.

"This is truly tentative. Much of what we'll be doing depends on Springfield," said Rob Widmer, Heartland vice president of business and finance.

While the college has had to pass tentative budgets in the past with budget uncertainty looming, Widmer called this situation more drastic.

"The state's never been in this dire of a situation," he said.

The college's tentative 2010 operating budget is balanced at nearly $25.6 million. It reflects finances based on continuing decline in state aid, growth in enrollment and a relatively stable local tax base, said Widmer.

The board on Tuesday also accepted a provisional two-year agreement with the full-time faculty union; approved a 3.8 percent annual salary increase for all college employees not represented by a union; and created a retirement incentive plan.

Widmer said details couldn't be released about the proposed contract with the Heartland Faculty Association until after the union approves the document. If that happens, the board would vote in July on the final document.

The board also approved a $1.46 million bid from Associated Constructors to install the Challenger Learning Center in the Community Education Center. The vote was unanimous, minus the abstentions from two new trustees seated in May, Terry Baggett and John "Jac" Copes.

The fiscal 2010 budget marks the first time in the college's 18-year history that tuition and fees revenue are expected to exceed local tax revenue. Nearly 42 percent of the budget's operating revenue will come from tuition and fees, about 39 percent will come from local taxes, and less than 12 percent will come from state funds.

While the taxable value of property in the district is fairly stable, state aid is decreasing. The difference, therefore, must be made up with tuition and fees.

In line with Illinois' State Universities Retirement System, the Heartland board also unanimously approved a retirement incentive plan. An employee planning to retire in one to four years can give notice of retirement and lock in a 6 percent annual pay increase for each year until retirement.

The advance notice helps the college to plan long-term personnel needs.