Idaho’s community colleges also would see a 3 percent increase in state funding next year – the same percentage as the state’s public four-year colleges and universities – under a budget unanimously adopted by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. Gov. Butch Otter had recommended only a 1.5 percent funding boost for community colleges.

The difference is just under a half-million dollars that budget writers added to the “Complete College Idaho” initiative program, which includes proposals from each of the colleges to address the goal of getting more of Idaho’s population to have post-secondary degrees or certificates. “I think the desire was to augment the budget a little more, and after discussion, that was the best way to do it,” said Sen. Jim Guthrie. He joined seven other JFAC members in crafting the budget motion. The budget bill still needs approval from the House and Senate and the governor’s signature to become law, but appropriations rarely change after they’re set by the joint committee.