Dr.Dene Thomas
The presidents of Idaho’s public universities and colleges met this week with members of the Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee to discuss funding needs.
Locally, Lewis-Clark State College President Dene Thomas says much of her time with the committee was focused on pointing out the merits of the school and its benefit to the region and state.
LCSC President Dene Thomas comments after meeting with state legislators
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Last fall Governor Butch Otter ordered statewide holdbacks in order to balance the state budget.
In his State of The State Address earlier this month Otter called for an additional holdback and some lawmakers are already talking about additional cuts.
Thomas says if more belt-tightening is required, she’s confident the college will be able to absorb the effects.
Thomas is confident the Lewiston campus can weather some belt-tightening if forced
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LCSC is also able to better deal with potential cuts due to an increase in enrollment. The college recently released its 10th day report showing Spring enrollment numbers at an all-time high of more than 3,900 students.
Still, if more cuts become necessary administrators fear it could have a negative impact on the school’s ability to sustain all programs and divisions at the current level of operation.
