Idaho Community Colleges Say they Need More Tax Money

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho community college officials argue they need more tax dollars to help improve the state's overall college enrollment and graduation rates, but legislative budget writers are facing pressure from the governor's office to keep the funding levels low.

Presidents from Idaho's three community colleges presented their budget proposals in front of the Joint Finance Appropriations budget committee on Tuesday. All three stressed that their top priority next fiscal year is to add additional staff and resources focused on enrolling more Idaho high school students in higher education.

However, Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter is advocating that this year's legislative session's focus should be on improving K-12 education funding and has only proposed an overall 1.5 percent boost to the community college budget.