Butler County Community College students will pay an extra $5 per credit in the 2022-2023 school year.

The college’s Council of Trustees voted on the increase at a meeting Wednesday, where it also gave final approval to next school year’s operating budget. The total expenditures for next school year are expected to be $28.8 million, which is equaled by the college’s expected revenues.

Jim Hrabosky, vice president for administration and finance at BC3, said the college is also expecting to receive about $380,000 in additional state funding. He said this allocation is significant for the college, and is what kept the tuition increase to $5 per credit. BC3 is expecting to receive $8,956,000 from the state in operating support.

“Affordability is inherent in our mission; we felt that $5 was reasonable but not excessive,” Hrabosky said. “If we didn't get that increase from the state we probably would have increased $10 (per credit). The state funding will be a big increase for us, probably the biggest increase we've seen in at least five years.”

Hrabosky said the college still has nearly $1.5 million in Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act money, which is expected to be spent by the end of 2022.

In revenues, the college is expecting $12.5 million from students, $10.7 million from the state, $5.6 million in county funding, $14 million in borrowing, gifts and contributions, $54,000 in interest payments, $2.9 million in miscellaneous funding, $1 million from foundation appropriation and there is about $2.8 million in the college’s reserves.

According to Hrabosky, the most significant cost increase BC3 is facing next school year is for employee medical insurance. He said BC3 belongs to a healthcare consortium which is increasing its current rate of about $2.8 million by 8% in the upcoming year.

Additionally, the opening of the new Ford City campus in Armstrong County is adding costs, including rent for the property, and employee raises always account for an increase in expenditures, Hrabosky said.

“Our operating expenses are not going down unfortunately,” Hrabosky said.

The trustees have to have the budget approved by July 1.

The trustees also completed a regular evaluation of Nick Neupauer, and voted to extend his agreement as the college’s president to run through June 30, 2026, with a salary of $265,203.

Additionally, the trustees awarded the exterior stairway project contract to R.A. Glancy & Sons of Gibsonia at a cost of about $398,000, according to Hrabosky.

The project will repair several sidewalks and stairways around BC3’s main campus in Butler Township, including stairs by the science and technology building and the public safety building.