This article was published in the Lenoir News-Topic.

Caldwell Community College & Technical Institute officials are still bracing for a cut of more than $1 million but won’t be sure of the amount until the General Assembly passes its final budget, CCC&TI president Ken Boham said Monday.

What is certain, however, is that tuition will go up by $2.50 per credit hour, raising the total cost per credit hour to $71.50 from $69, and community college employees will not receive raises.

After months of deliberations, the N.C. House and Senate have come to a compromise on the state budget. Legislators are set to vote on that budget proposal this week.

CCC&TI has been operating under an interim budget since late June, which allowed the college to operate under the terms of its 2012-14 budget until the General Assembly passes a final budget.

Boham said he expects the college will absorb a cut “in excess of $1 million,” or more than 4 percent of the $27 million the college received from the state in fiscal 2012-13. He has said previously the college would shift funds from equipment to operations to help soften the blow of the cut.

“We will continue to set high standards and, as we have done for several years, will continue doing more with less as budgets continue to tighten,” Boham said.