Suffolk to probe tuition payment system

Suffolk Legislators Thomas Cilmi (R-Bay Shore) and Wayne Horsley (D-Babylon) requested a comptroller's probe of payments for out-of-county tuition after Suffolk Community College officials disclosed that they found addresses for 80 local students undeliverable.

"I'm sure . . . you are as curious as I as to why at least 80 of the students the county subsidizes are M.I.A.," Cilmi emailed county Comptroller Joseph Sawicki Jr. "The same bell went off in my head," Horsley said.

Counties pay part of the cost for local students to attend state community colleges elsewhere. Eighty students would cost the county about $320,000 a year. Sawicki said the students must apply each semester and submit two proofs of residence. He said the county had no problems before, and these may be address changes, but "if there are cracks in the system we will find out." -- Rick Brand