ND Bill May Impact Taxpayers

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The House Appropriations Committee is considering a bill that would prohibit raising tuition at all state colleges and universities until 2017.

Problem is, it could affect taxpayers.

Computers, housing, and of course tuition can sure add up when it comes to college expenses.

Brandon Botner who’s currently in college at NDSU said, “Definitely. Obviously it’s difficult especially without loans or anything.”

Botner says he can’t even think about the numbers when it comes to how much it costs.
“I just focus on getting through school and hopefully my career will pay for that, or help me get through those payments by the end of all of it,” said Botner.

North Dakota House of Representatives are considering passing a bill that would stop any chance of tuition increasing at colleges and universities for the next two years.

Otherwise students could face an increase in tuition by 5.8%.

Representative Kylie Oversen of Grand Forks testified in support of the bill calling it a step in the right direction.

It would be great for North Dakota students if the bill is passed, but that difference of $30 million will have to be made up by taxpayers.

North Dakota Taxpayer Nick Mathern said,”We don’t want to put a burden on our taxpayers, so I kind of feel like that the state has enough money already to do something like give the incentive to the kids that what to go to school and help them out.”

A full time student at NDSU pays more than $6,000 per year just for tuition.
If this bill passes, it could help students out like Brandon.

“I’ve got a lot ahead of me so any lowering or freezing of tuition payments would be pretty helpful,” said Botner.

Although expensive, data does show that North Dakota’s four year colleges are actually less expensive than their regional counterparts.

A second bill could also prohibit raising tuition at the two year colleges as well.