IRONWOOD -- State Representatives Tom Casperson and Ed McBroom met with Gogebic Community College Friday night to discuss community college funding for next year.
In the fiscal year 2010-2011, the community college state assistance funding was cut by 4.6 percent. In the 2011-2012 fiscal year, there was an increase of 0.6 percent.
The state looks at this as baby steps to improving the funding.
“There are some specific needs relative to these two schools, but in general, they're very supportive of the original plans,” said Representative Ed McBroom. “The house hasn't really come out with a solid proposal yet, so whether it's higher or lower, I can't really say what we'll be fighting for yet.”
The state reps heard testimony from Gogebic Community College as well as Bay College as to the importance of community college to the area. Gogebic College says they stretch their dollar as far as they can, and any extra assistance from the state could help a lot.
“It helps significantly,” said Gogebic College President Jim Lorenson. “Costs continue to go up. The reality is anything additional helps. It helps relieve the burden on tuition.”
There's about $6,000 that Gogebic college isn't getting because of a lack of property tax in the area.
The governor's current plan for next fiscal year, which begins October 1, is to increase the budget by another three percent. Gogebic College stated that any money at all would be a big help.
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