Assemblyman Marc W. Butler (R,C,I,Ref-Newport) says the state budget must provide support to community colleges that face rising costs every year.

He also urged his colleagues to reject the governor’s proposal that would undo a long-standing 50-year agreement which provides aid to independent colleges and universities to ensure a diverse higher education system in New York.

“New York’s higher education system is one of the best and most diverse in the nation. That is in large part due to not only our four-year SUNY schools, but also our local community colleges and exceptional independent colleges and universities that have served as hubs of learning and enrichment throughout the state,” said Butler, who sits on the Assembly Committee on Higher Education.

“The budget should reflect the important and invaluable return that community colleges and independent higher learning institutions provide to our state and communities. Students should have a variety of college options available to them so they can choose the one that will best fit their needs and goals.

Community college advocates have voiced concerns that per student aid has not risen to meet with the rising costs of operating these two-year colleges. Butler feels that additional support to community colleges is especially helpful for those which serve rural regions such as those in his district. Community colleges are an important higher-learning option for students of all backgrounds and are an invaluable part of any community. Herkimer College, for example, has an estimated $75 million impact on Herkimer County.

The governor in his Executive Budget proposal would discontinue the Bundy Aid Program, which is a program that has been in place since 1968 to ensure a diverse selection of both public and independent colleges and universities was available to students. Butler supports Bundy Aid at its previous rate of $35.1 million, which has been its rate for the past several years.