Maine should invest millions of dollars in its underfunded community-college system because the state has a significant shortage of skilled workers in most industries, yet the colleges are at or near capacity in many programs, according to a task force report released Thursday.

Noting that Maine has the smallest community-college system in the nation - based on the percentage of the adult population served - the task force says the state should spend an extra $20.3 million a year to boost enrollment initially from 13,000 to 17,000 students. The report also calls for "a major capital improvements bond issue" for building upgrades and, possibly, new construction.

Political leaders reacted to the report by praising the colleges and, in some cases, by backing an increase in the system's $110 million annual budget. But they hinted that the amounts requested by the Governor's Community College Advisory Council may be unrealistic.

In addition to helping increase enrollment, the extra $20.3 million would provide more financial aid, expand nine "centers" that provide off-campus classes, help more high school students go on to college and expand customized training programs for businesses that are creating full-time jobs with good wages and benefits.

The percentage of Mainers who have college degrees is below the New England average, yet more than two-thirds of newly created jobs require a postsecondary education, according to the report. Over time, the task force wants to increase enrollment to 30,000 students.

The report doesn't specify how much money the state should borrow to modernize or construct buildings. But Joanna Jones, who co-chaired the advisory group and chairs the Maine Community College System's Board of Trustees, said at a news conference at Southern Maine Community College that she believes the bond should exceed $30 million.

The colleges already provide an "affordable, accessible and efficient pathway to higher education" for thousands of students, Jones said. "Now we need to turn that pathway into a multi-lane highway."

Enrollment in the seven-college system has jumped 42 percent in recent years, according to the report. Yet state funding "has increased just 5.7 percent and staffing levels have remained flat." As it stands now, the report says, the system enrolls about 1 percent of the state's population, "making it the smallest community-college system in the nation and well below the national average of 3 percent."

At the same time, the report says, Maine's community colleges and other schools offering similar programs "are training only about a third of the skilled workers needed to meet the anticipated employment needs of many of Maine's largest industries" in the next few years. If Maine's skilled work force falls short of demand by 4,200 people this year, as expected, Maine employers will lose business opportunities and suffer higher operating costs, according to the report.

The task force is a high-powered group that includes prominent business and labor leaders, and the community colleges have strong support at the State House. But the proposals are being greeted with caution, and some skepticism, at the Capitol.

Two key Democratic leaders who attended Thursday's news conference agreed that the state should invest more money in its community colleges. But Democratic Gov. John Baldacci, who created the task force, and Democratic Rep. Glenn Cummings of Portland, who expects to be elected speaker of the House of Representatives next month, stopped short of endorsing the full funding requests. Cummings is on the faculty at SMCC.

"My budget (for the next two years) will have an appropriate increase for the community colleges," Baldacci said in response to reporters' questions. "I can't tell you the amount" yet, he said. As for borrowing money to modernize or construct buildings, Baldacci said he is "going to be hesitant about supporting more bricks and mortar" until he is convinced that the system is "maximizing the use of technology."

"I strongly support an increase," Cummings said, but he did not endorse a specific amount of money.

The community colleges provide plenty of "bang for the buck," said incoming Senate Minority Leader Carol Weston, R-Montville. But she said state government faces a budget shortfall and the state has made "promises to many people," including Mainers clamoring for tax relief. "Let's go slow and let's make priorities" that reflect competing demands and limited resources, Weston said.

"People who go to college make more money," so it makes sense to give more Mainers an opportunity to boost their earning potential, Devin Provencal of Skowhegan, a student at SMCC, said after the news conference.

The real issue, Provencal said, is "finding the money" to pay for such investments.

Staff Writer Paul Carrier can be reached at 622-7511 or at:

pcarrier@pressherald.com