A public hearing for the Herkimer County Community College 2008-09 budget is set for July 23 at 7:15 p.m.
The Herkimer County Legislature, which must accept the spending plan, approved the date at a meeting on Wednesday.
The $21,295,536 budget approved by the HCCC Board of Trustees on June 18 cut 15 positions, with eight being vacant, and reduced the salaries of nine others to deal with fiscal difficulties and departmental reorganization.
 Members of the legislature’s Education Committee will be able to ask questions on specifics, with full disclosure of the budget if so desired, at a meeting on July 16 at 7 p.m.
JoAnne LeClair, president of the Civil Service Employees Association (union unit representing most of the HCCC employees), made comments during the public input portion of the meeting.
She argued that several positions being affected, by either reduction of hours, benefits or total elimination, are “front-end” positions.
Basically the personnel responsible for direct contact with the public, such as switchboard operators, admissions, and circulation staff.
LeClair stated her goal is to encourage the legislature to appropriate funds to reinstate the positions. Adding that full budget information is needed to understand the impact, “Don’t rubber stamp approve that budget without some serious consideration...”
Legislator John L. Brezinski asked, “Any idea how they are going to be able to survive.”
“I have no idea how the college will manage,” said LeClair. 
Legislators discussed their role in the final outcome.
Since the HCCC approval only amounts to a tentative budget, the legislature can deny it. This denial would result in the college having to make changes to be approved at a later date.
But if the current dollar amount is approved then the college moves forward with its proposed actions (however, the cuts, reductions, and reorganizations took effect immediately following HCCC’s approval, according to previous comments by the college).
The public hearing will be held in the legislative chambers, room 310 of the County Office Building, 109 Mary St., in the village of Herkimer.