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Finance Committee Approves Capital Budget Nic Request For $150,000 Included, Despite Objections From Pischner

By Betsy Z. Russell betsyr@spokesman.com(208) 336-2854

North Idaho College got money Monday for a campus master plan - but funding came over the objections of the only Panhandle legislator on the budget committee.

Rep. Don Pischner, R-Coeur d’Alene, not only voted against the plan, he offered his own version of the state’s capital budget that cut out $150,000 for NIC. Also axed by Pischner was a $2 million plan to start a Boise State University campus in Canyon County.

Pischner asked whether people in Canyon County had considered charging themselves a property tax, like Kootenai County residents do to support NIC.

As for the money for NIC, he said, “I didn’t want to be bought. There are enough people already bought.”

The state Board of Education had not approved NIC’s $150,000 request, so it wasn’t even on the list of projects from which the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee was choosing when it set the capital budget Monday.

But committee Co-Chairman Sen. Atwell Parry, R-Melba, proposed a $23.7 million capital budget that included that money along with a similar amount for a project at the College of Southern Idaho.

Parry’s proposal also earmarked the $2 million for the first phase of the new BSU campus, which would go in his home county. And he added in $150,000 toward a classroom center at the University of Idaho, and an additional $50,000 toward an already funded physical education building project at Lewis Clark State College.

Said Pischner: “That didn’t appease me. ‘Well, look, Rep. Pischner, just out of the blue we’re going to give your local college $150,000.”’

Pischner said he didn’t think a study was the top funding need at NIC, though it was the top priority the college identified in its budget request.

Bill Nixon, chairman of the NIC board of trustees, said, “Don Pischner has been a friend of the college. He’s entitled to his own views, certainly.”

Steve Schenk, dean of college relations and development, said the study will “tell us how do we make the very best possible use of this 44 acres of main campus. It’s a small site, and we are running out of room.”

Schenk said the master plan probably will cost $250,000 to $300,000.

The college would earmark funds in its budget in the coming year to supplement the $150,000 state appropriation.

Pischner said he doesn’t believe new college campuses, like BSU’s proposed Canyon County campus, should be started up when funding is tight. “We ought to just take care of what we have,” he said.

Pischner’s capital budget proposal failed on a 4-16 vote, and Parry’s passed 16-4. The measure now needs approval of both houses of the Legislature and the governor’s signature to become law.

The capital budget approved Monday totals $23.7 million, with $14.1 million going for alteration and repair projects on existing state buildings.

It also funds other projects recommended by the governor, including: $3 million for the second phase of a physical science building at Idaho State University; $1 million for UI biotechnology facilities; $1.7 million for microwave communications equipment for the state Department of Law Enforcement; and $554,000 for the LCSC physical education building.

The budget also includes $165,000 in matching funds for a 120-bed parole violator center, for which Idaho will get a $1.6 million federal grant; and $180,000 in matching funds for a $3.3 million juvenile corrections complex at St. Anthony.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Capital budget breakdown The Senate Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a $23.7 million capital budget by a 16-4 vote on Monday. The budget was proposed by Sen. Atwell Parry, R-Melba. It includes: $14.1 million for alteration and repair projects on existing state buildings. $3 million for the second phase of a physical science building at Idaho State University. $2 million for the first phase of the new BSU campus in Canyon County. $1.7 million for microwave communications equipment for the state Department of Law Enforcement. $1 million for UI biotechnology facilities. $554,000 for the Lewis-Clark State College physical education building. $180,000 in matching funds for a $3.3 million juvenile corrections complex at St. Anthony. $165,000 in matching funds for a 120-bed parole violator center, for which Idaho will get a $1.6 million federal grant. $150,000 for North Idaho College for a campus master plan. The budget needs approval from both houses of the Legislature and the governor’s signature to become law.

This sidebar appeared with the story: Capital budget breakdown The Senate Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved a $23.7 million capital budget by a 16-4 vote on Monday. The budget was proposed by Sen. Atwell Parry, R-Melba. It includes: $14.1 million for alteration and repair projects on existing state buildings. $3 million for the second phase of a physical science building at Idaho State University. $2 million for the first phase of the new BSU campus in Canyon County. $1.7 million for microwave communications equipment for the state Department of Law Enforcement. $1 million for UI biotechnology facilities. $554,000 for the Lewis-Clark State College physical education building. $180,000 in matching funds for a $3.3 million juvenile corrections complex at St. Anthony. $165,000 in matching funds for a 120-bed parole violator center, for which Idaho will get a $1.6 million federal grant. $150,000 for North Idaho College for a campus master plan. The budget needs approval from both houses of the Legislature and the governor’s signature to become law.