NIC To Increase Tuition Again

For the third consecutive year, North Idaho College trustees decided to balance the college’s budget by increasing tuition rather than levying additional property taxes. The $44.2 million general fund budget approved for fiscal year 2016 includes a $561,000 increase over the previous year’s budget, and was developed using a forecasted 10 percent decline in student enrollment that is primarily offset by the tuition hike. Students living in Kootenai County will now pay $5 more per credit, reflecting a 3.9 percent increase. Students living outside the county will pay $8 more per credit. The budget was approved by a vote of 3-2 with Trustees Ron Nilson and Todd Banducci casting the opposing votes/ Maureen Dolan , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here .

Question: Should the trustees have raised property taxes rather than tuition to balance the budget?