Suffolk Community tuition may exceed $4G

Tuition at even affordable Suffolk County Community College appears on the verge of exceeding $4,000 a year.

SCCC trustees will consider a $195.2-million budget Wednesday that would raise tuition by $250 a year to $4,026.

But officials at the two-year school say they could cut the tuition hike to $190 if the county increases its share of college costs by $1.5 million, or 4 percent.

A $250 increase would boost tuition 6.6 percent starting in September, bringing in $7.1 million in new revenue at the three-campus school. That revenue figure also is based on projected 2 percent enrollment growth at Suffolk, already the state's largest community college, with a record 25,240 students -- up 10.5 percent since 2008.

The proposed budget is $5.8 million, or 3.1 percent, higher than this year's. College officials say the tuition hike is needed because the state has cut student aid $148 per student from $2,260 this year, a loss of $3.2 million, on top of $10.5 million in state cuts over the last two years.

While the faculty union took no increases in pay this year and next, the college must still pay $3 million more for automatic "step" increases based on experience. The college also has $2.05 million in higher pension costs, and $1.85 million more in health insurance expenses.

"The college is doing everything it can to be fiscally prudent without turning students away," said Mary Lou Araneo, college spokeswoman.

Even before trustees meet in Riverhead, school officials will urge county lawmakers Wednesday before the economic development and education committee in Hauppauge to increase the county's share of costs. "I don't want to prejudge the issue," said Legis. Wayne Horsley (D-Babylon), committee chairman. "But the county has some severe financial restraints, so we're going to have to be guarded."

County Executive Steve Levy, in a prepared statement, said, "My goal is to freeze general fund taxes for an eighth straight year." He said he would "not likely support anything that would cause an increase in taxes" but will listen to "all options."

Presiding Officer William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) said he expected the college to ask for more money from the county, but it's too early to assess the chances. "There's always a will because . . . it's a quality education at a very cheap price," Lindsay said. "But just because there's a will, it doesn't mean we have the money."

College officials said college funding by law is supposed to be split evenly among the state, the county and students, but with the $250 increase students would foot 51.4 percent of college costs while the county would pay 23.6 percent and the state 25 percent. The county contribution to the college has been $38.6 million since 2007.

Nassau Community College trustees are looking at "various budget options," according to spokeswoman Alicia Steger, but the school will not adopt a budget or tuition rate until next month. Nassau's tuition is $3,732 a year.