Astorino, College propose 2013-14 budget that does not hike tuition. Tuition for nearly 14,000 students at Westchester Community College will not increase next year under a proposed budget submitted this week by County Executive Robert P. Astorino with the backing of the college’s president and Board of Trustees.
“Westchester’s economy is steadily showing signs of real improvement, but it’s still fragile and families continue to struggle,” explained Astorino who sent the proposed budget to the Board of Legislators on Tuesday.
“The last thing we want to do is place an additional burden on people who are working hard to improve their economic position through education. So it was vital that we approached next year’s budget with the mindset that we are not going to increase tuition costs for thousands of Westchester families. And at the same time, the county will increase its financial commitment to Westchester Community College, ensuring that it remains one of America’s top community colleges,” Astorino said.
WCC’s annual spending plan for 2013-14 includes a total operating budget of $122.3 million, of which $28.7 million is subsidized directly by county taxpayers, up from $27.8 million in 2012-13.
The budget also calls for a separate $1.1 million capital program that will fund two projects. The first is a multi-year planning study that will assess current and future infrastructure needs at the college’s main 218-acre campus in Valhalla. The second will replace roofs on various campus buildings.
Later this year, for the fourth year in a row, Astorino will propose a county operating budget with no tax increases. Under Astorino, the county property tax levy has been lowered two percent.
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