The Senate has voted 26-8 to approve a grim budget for next year for the state's community colleges, including a 9.2 percent cut in state general funds and a cut of 12.2 percent in total funds. Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, spoke out against the bill and other budgets containing big cuts for education. "The college of Western Idaho and other community colleges around the state are facing record enrollment growths at a time when people are losing jobs," she said. The budget plan, she said, would "cripple" the schools' ability to "meet this enrollment growth and help people through this difficult economic time."

Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said Idaho's community college presidents and officials have shown they can manage and grow "in spite of very difficult times." He said," They have survived the reductions in the past, and they will survive this reduction because of their outstanding leadership." The budget bill, SB 1415, now moves to the House.

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