North Idaho College President Richard MacLennan made his first budget pitch to state lawmakers on Monday, telling them NIC “stands proudly as the oldest community college in Idaho” and touting its new career-technical education center in Rathdrum.

“This $20 million project was funded entirely by local resources, grants and private giving, which I believe is a strong testament and endorsement of the important work we do for our region,” MacLennan told the Legislature’s joint budget committee.

Sen. Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene, asked why NIC’s local property tax levy in Kootenai County is nearly $107 per $100,000 assessed value, for a total of $14 million a year, when the College of Southern Idaho and College of Western Idaho have lower levies, CWI at $16 or $6.9 million, and CSI at $96 or $5.7 million/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

DFO: Shouldn't Sen. Mary Souza, R-COEUR d'ALENE be supporting MacLennan rather than trying to trip him up? She should have known the answer to her question before she even asked. Thoughts?

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