The College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, like CWI and North Idaho College, submitted several budget requests for next year that weren’t recommended for funding in Gov. Butch Otter’s budget proposal. CSI President Jeff Fox requested $774,800 for a new software platform; $67,500 in one-time funding to support the Center for Education Innovation Initiative that was funded in the ISU budget this year; and $195,600 to develop a “weekend college” program for working adults and high school students, with adjunct faculty teaching the courses. None of the three made the governor’s cut.

“A lot of our constituents are working,” Fox told JFAC, explaining the “weekend college” proposal.

He said the Center for Education Innovation Initiative was a joint request last year from CSI and ISU; only the ISU portion was funded, and CSI was encouraged to come back again with its request.

CSI also requested $756,900 for replacement items, including computers, vehicles and audio-visual equipment; Otter also rejected that request.

When Rep. Steve Miller, R-Fairfield, asked why Otter took that position, DFM budget analyst David Hahn said, “The governor chose not to recommend any replacement items that were from the general fund, in any of the college and university budgets or any of the community college budgets. He wanted those resources to be targeted toward those task force recommendations instead, so that was the emphasis, and that’s the reason why.”