Community colleges funding formula advanced

Senators advanced a bill from general file Jan. 21 that would provide a formula to determine the amount of state aid appropriated among the state’s six community colleges for fiscal year 2011-12 and FY2012-13.

LB59, introduced by York Sen. Greg Adams, would distribute the total amount of state aid according to a new formula:
• 8.86 percent for the Central Community College Area;
• 26.51 percent for the Metropolitan Community College Area;
• 9.05 percent for the Mid-Plains Community College Area;
• 28.27 percent for the Southeast Community College Area;
• 13.27 percent for the Western Community College Area; and
• 14.04 percent for the Northeast Community College Area, with 0.1 percent of that amount going to the Nebraska Indian Community College and 0.2 percent to the Little Priest Tribal College.

The previous formula was terminated last session, Adams said, with an understanding that the six colleges’ CEOs together would create a new formula for funding the next two years.

Omaha Sen. Gwen Howard spoke in support of the bill, saying that she is grateful the community colleges have reached a point where they can come together to work on this issue.

“When they can discuss these things we all benefit,” she said.

LB59 was advanced on a 38-0 vote.