Legislature OKs DCC budget and tuition hike

It will cost $3,969 to attend the two-year college in Poughkeepsie in the upcoming academic year.

It will cost $3,969 to attend Dutchess Community College in the upcoming academic year.

County legislators voted 21-1 Monday to approve the college’s $66.8 million 2017-18 budget. Legislator Joel Tyner cast the lone “no” vote.

Spending in the college’s 2017-18 budget is up 1 percent from the current year’s $66.1 million, and full-time tuition will rise by 4 percent from the current $3,528. Part-time tuition is to rise $7 per credit hour, to $154 from $147.

The proposed budget also calls for a $1 million increase in the county’s contribution to the college, raising the amount Dutchess will kick in toward the college’s operations to $14,537,898.

Tyner, D-Clinton, said that even with the increase in the county’s share, Dutchess still contributes less to its community college operating budget than other counties in the region.

He said with a county fund balance of more than $59 million, “there is no reason to jack up tuition at Dutchess Community College.”

An attempt by Tyner to increase the county’s contribution by $730,000 — an amount equal to what the college anticipates receiving as a result of the increased tuition — failed after no legislator would second the amendment.

Last week, college President Pamela Edington said that even with the tuition increase, Dutchess will continue to have the lowest community college tuition in the state.

In Ulster County, lawmakers last month approved a $24.2 million budget for SUNY Ulster for 2017-18 that hikes full time tuition at the community college to $4,480 per year, a 3.5 percent increase from the current $4,330. Part-time tuition at Ulster will increase by $5 per credit hour, to $170.

Ulster County’s contribution to the college’s operation will hold at $6.4 million.