Calif.-Nev. may drop out of state community college tuition fee for some Tahoe residents
By Kathryn Reed
California and Nevada state senators are working to revive the good neighbor policy so students in the Lake Tahoe Basin would not have to pay out of state tuition to attend nearby community colleges.
State Sen. Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, on Feb. 27 introduced the legislation — known as SB605. His counterpart in Nevada, state Sen. James Settelmeyer, R-Minden, will soon be doing the same.
“We want to make sure youth in our community have affordable options for affordable education and then the opportunity to build careers and find jobs in the basin as well,” Gaines told Lake Tahoe News. “We hope we’ll be successful in both legislatures and provide some relief in a basin that doesn’t know borders.”
No one in Settelmeyer’s office responded to LTN.
The bill would limit the number of students crossing the state line to 200.
One of the reasons the bill has failed twice before is that lawmakers were concerned about how many students would take advantage of the good neighbor policy and what fiscal impact that could have.
The bills mirror each other, which has not happened before. The laws would benefit Lake Tahoe Basin students in specific ZIP codes, and involve Lake Tahoe Community College and Western Nevada Community College.
This would be a six-year pilot program. Gaines said at the end of that time period officials would analyze whether the program was working, and if adjustments need to be made, including increasing or decreasing the number of students who may participate.
LTCC President Kindred Murillo has been at the forefront of trying to make this a reality. She credited the two lawmakers for being “champions” of the cause. The men represent Lake Tahoe in their respective legislatures.
The good neighbor policy has been in place before, but Nevada dropped it a few years ago. This means students going to Whittell High School cannot drive the three miles to LTCC, but instead must go over a mountain pass to the nearest community college in Nevada – at least if they don’t want to pay the exorbitant out of state tuition fee.
Gaines said his office has been speaking with the Association of California Community Colleges and has gotten support for the legislation.
this seems like wonderful news if it goes thru. Those on both the North Shore and the South Shore will benefit
Yes benefits at LTCC for ALL- on the backs of the suckers who dare to own a piece of property in the basin part of El Dorado County California. Nevada’s educational system is the worst in the nation so why shouldn’t we take on their needs? The unintended consequences of this ill conceived Measure have yet to rear all it’s ugly heads. Get in line SLT residents as you’re about to be fighting for that class you need with someone who lives in Glenbrook or Carson City and directly or indirectly pays ZERO into the college system here. What a difference 75 votes makes- if only the truth was known – it may have worked-out differently.
I love it when common sense is fought for.
Life is a compromise. What will the out-of-state residents be bringing to the table to offset their lowered tuition rates? Perhaps it is time for Nevada to pay into the costs of California being their bedroom community for the casinos. They could pay for the airport that they almost exclusively use. There are deals to be made but free-for-all giveaways should be avoided. Think out of the box a little here.
Isee i dont know if you realise this, but the college has less than 2000 ful time students when it was built to habdle 4000, 200 more students will not come close to taxing the schools limits. it will benefit those students on the north shore because it would get them a college that is within commuting range. With more students it makes our college more economically viable. This is a win win.
The need to recruit students and student athletes is over. The college has no need to be economically viable anymore. That was what the measure was passed-for. I agree with dumbfounded.
By the way, there is a spell-check on this comment area– or you could take a class in basic English at the college.
ISEE, wow, sour grapes
it is a win win for our local community college and the teachers that might have full classes. Maybe even the adjunct teachers will benefit. More people using the community college is a good thing.
Nature – Sorry, you are right, I tried to delete it and it was too late. Rough week.
Dumb and Isee The thought here is that 200 students from stateline would use LTCC and 200 students from North Shore California side would use Western Nevada so that it would not be a lose for either state, win win. Its a trial program for only 6 years.
Thanks for helping me see, Relo. Really.
ISEE have a better day :)
Western Nevada offers some GREAT stuff that LTCC doesn’t. Check ’em out. I don’t agree with the extortion that LTCC just foist on the property owners here in the basin, but being offered resident rates at Western NV could be very beneficial, since we’re stuck with the taxes now anyway. Check them out.
Is it appropriate to tax Californians for the LTCC, and then give the same residential tuition rate to Nevadans who don’t participate in the funding of the College? Although I can see the benefits of increasing enrollment, I don’t agree with the idea of changing the residency requirements. Of course, another question would be: “Will Nevada schools allow California residents to use their facilities and pay the same as the residents of Nevada”? It seems like a fair question. Yes, that is what is proposed, but will it be reality?
Excellent program why wouldn’t we do something like this. For years Nevada offered a good neighbor policy at UNR which one of my kids took advantage of while there was no reciprocal program at a university level in California.