New funding formula for community colleges

Senators passed a bill Feb. 16 that provides 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, distributes 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 bill passed with a 49-0 vote and takes effect immediately.