IFF: Nilson, Banducci Huzzah

Kudos are in order for two elected officials: Todd Banducci and Ron Nilson, trustees at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene. The two voted against a community college budget that proposed increasing tuition by $5 per credit hour ($8 per credit hour for non-Kootenai County residents). This tuition increase of nearly 4 percent won the support of the NIC board on a 3-2 vote last week, with the aforementioned trustees objecting. The new $44.2 million budget also includes $550,000 more in salaries and benefits. The Coeur d’Alene Press reports that Banducci and Nilson wanted alternatives and a better understanding of countervailing issues: How will enrollment, already down 10 percent, be impacted? What other colleges doing for compensation? What’s happening with employee benefits? Banducci said the tuition increases were avoidable by halving the proposed two-step pay hike/ Wayne Hoffman , Idaho Freedom Foundation. More here.

Question: Why would Hoffman be interested in North Idaho College?