MALONE — No public or written comments were made before Franklin County legislators approved the North Country Community College budget Thursday.
The $13,630,000 budget for the 2012-13 school year increases by 3.3 percent, but tuition will remain at $3,900 a year.
Franklin and Essex counties, as co-sponsors, must contribute equal amounts to the college’s operating expenses.
The Franklin County Legislature unanimously voted Thursday to provide $1,190,000.
The Essex County Board of Supervisors plans to have a public hearing on the matter at 9:45 a.m. Monday, July 30. Its Finance Committee met in Elizabethtown on Monday and gave its preliminary approval of the plan.
About $200,000 of the funding would go toward capital improvements at each of North Country’s three campuses: Malone, Ticonderoga and Saranac Lake.
College President Dr. Steven Tyrell said an overall maintenance and repair plan is being finalized, and the issues found will
be prioritized.
Problems causing safety issues, for example, would be tackled first, then others would be completed as finances last.
He said the college can’t do everything it wants or needs to do, but review of the problems can identify short-term and long-term solutions.
Legislator Timothy Burpoe (D-Saranac Lake) praised Tyrell and William Chapin, the vice president of finance, for keeping the budget in line and taxpayers in mind when they drew up the plan.
“North Country Community College is doing a good job of making it with what they have,” he said.
“Keep doing what you’re doing.”
Email Denise A. Raymo:
draymo@pressrepublican.com
