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ELIZABETHTOWN — North Country Community College Interim President Fred Smith's request for another $50,000 from Essex County for the new college budget was met with approval Monday.

But the County Board of Supervisors was far less supportive of Smith's request for $55,000 as the county's share to draft architectural plans for the $33 million first phase of a proposed construction project at the Saranac Lake main campus.

CAUTIOUS OK
"The timing couldn't be worse for this right now," Supervisor Thomas Scozzafava (R-Moriah) said of the capital request.

"We just voted for a radio project that's going to cost millions of dollars. We have issues at the (Horace Nye) Nursing Home (and) with our own building."

The County Ways and Means Committee tentatively approved spending the $55,000, pending a possible public hearing, but cautioned Smith that they might decline to participate in the renovation project.

"I personally can't see going forward with a $30 million project until we know where this economy is going," Supervisor Randy Preston (I-Wilmington) said. "This is way out of our realm."

Preston was the only supervisor to vote against paying for the plans.

SIGNIFICANT STEP
Smith said Phase 1 will build a student center, classrooms and library. Construction plans from JMZ Architects and Planners of Glens Falls will cost $220,000.

The plans will be drafted over an eight-month time frame, Smith said, with construction to start in 2011.

Smith said that if Essex and Franklin counties, the college's sponsors, each pay $55,000, the state will contribute $110,000 as its share.

"This is a significant step," Smith said. "There is a commitment of sorts at this point."

He said the next step would be to issue serial bonds for the work.

NEGLECT
Smith defended the college Board of Trustees' decision to go ahead with the project in economically distressed times.

"If you've been on the campus at Saranac Lake, it's pretty sad. The college has been pretty neglectful at doing the things that should be done over the years."

Supervisor Lori Lincoln-Spooner (R-Willsboro) said she thought the project would stimulate the local economy.

"I know it's difficult times," Supervisor Randy Douglas (D-Jay) said. "I'm going to support this whole-heartedly. We can't compete with colleges in our own area. We've fallen behind."

If they waited for better times, it would cost more money, Douglas said.

"I'm supporting the study, but I'm not committing to the $33 million by any means," Supervisor Ronald Jackson (R-Essex) said.

FAIR INCREASE
On the 2009-10 budget approved June 23 by the NCCC Board of Trustees, supervisors were more optimistic.

The $12.8 million budget calls for the sponsoring counties to each pay $1,200,000, a $50,000 increase over last year.

"I think what you're requesting for an increase is fair and reasonable," Scozzafava said.

Smith said the college is holding down spending, but the state is giving them less aid.

"The total budget is only $4,000 more than it was (last time). But because the state has remained flat in state aid per student, at $2,675, that resulted in a cut of close to $200,000."

The budget also raises tuition $170 per student, to $3,660 a year, up 4.8 percent.

Essex County will hold a public hearing on the budget Monday, July 20, with a vote on adoption to follow.

Smith will meet with the Franklin County Legislature Thursday to try to get the same funding from them.

He'll leave office as interim president on Monday, Aug. 31, when the new NCCC president, Carol Brown, arrives.

E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com