Making ends meet
At their meeting April 18, the NIC Board of Trustees read through the proposed budget for the fiscal year of 2013, which may include a tuition increase and a property tax increase.
The proposed budget asked for an increase in tuition by 3 percent, and an increase of property taxes by 2 percent in order to raise revenue for NIC.
The 3 percent tuition increase would likely result in an additional $312,803 of revenue for the college, while the 2 percent increase in property tax would likely result in an additional $267,285 of revenue.
The tuition increase would mean a per semester cost of $1,423 for in-district students. Out-of-district students would pay $1,923, Washington residents would pay $2,422, while WUE students would pay $2,885 and out-of-state and out-of-country students would pay $3,767.
There was some discussion among the trustees about how the percentage increases would be applied. Some of the trustees wanted a 3 percent tuition, zero percent property tax increase, while others wanted 2 percent tuition and 1 percent property tax increases.
It is expected that the relative merits and disadvantages of each proposed combination of increases will be discussed at the next board meeting.
The proposed budget also includes plans to add two new positions: a Veteran’s and Outreach Adviser and an Access Specialist for the Center for Educational Access.
The budget anticipates an enrollment increase of only 3 percent for the fiscal year 2013.
The state general funds are expected to increase by $934,300.
The proposed budget includes a 2 percent increase in base salaries for all full-time faculty and staff.
The new priorities of this proposed budget that are deemed mandatory include the Trustee Election for $7,000, SWAC membership for $5,000, offset to TRiO Grant reduction at $10,116, mandatory IT software maintenance increases at $77,345, media tracking software at $9,500, Prophix maintenance, audit increase, and Higher One costs at $17,000, athletic insurance increase at $8,000, increased travel costs due to athletic schedule changes at $15,000, and searches and relocation costs for the two new vice presidents at $45,000.
The NIC Board of Trustees will vote on the budget at their next meeting May 23.
