There was no debate and no discussion on the equally bare-bones budget for community colleges that followed the university budget-setting this morning. Community colleges will take an 11 percent cut in their state general funds next year, under the budget, but see a 5.4 percent cut overall, thanks to the addition of $1.6 million in federal stimulus money. No additional items were funded in the budget over last year, not even the $102,000 that Gov. Butch Otter recommended for additional nursing faculty positions, the only one of five budget expansion requests from Idaho’s three community colleges that got his nod/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

• Bare-bones budget OK'd for universities
• Species conservation cut reversed
• ISP budget set
• Budget cuts bring another thorny problem

Question: Are you convinced that legislative budget writers are doing all they can to minimize cuts to education?

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