"Better News Budget" CNC Board of Governors approves 20072008 budget By Rob Mealey At it's March 7th meeting, the College of New Caledonia Board of Governors approved the College's 200708 operating budget. As part of the budget, tuition fees will increase by 2 In his introductory comments to the budget presentation, CNC Interim President John Bowman described the College's 200708 budget as a "good news" story. "The good news is that the College has been able to prepare a balanced budget for the coming year, and that in 200708 no program or service reductions have been necessary in order to balance the College's total expenditures with projected revenues," he said. Before the Board of Governors held it's final discussion and vote, CNC Students' Union Treasurer Justin Simon gave a brief presentation and called upon the Board to amend the budget and reject the tuition fee increase. The Students' Union also pointed out students' complaints with with privatized pay parking on the Prince George Campus, as well as opportunities for CNC to pursue to increase enrolment such as restore the Co-Op program, in light of the elimination of Co-Op at UNBC. The Students' Union also invited the Board to engage in joint lobbying with students, faculty and support staff. Faculty Association President Jan Mastromoteo also gave a presentation and spoke out against the tuition fee increase, while Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada Local 29 (support staff) President Lily xx used her presentation time to speak against the proposal to expand the Material Fee to cover Apprentiship courses. Students welcomed the news that there would be no cutbacks this year. "We congratulate the College for developing a balanced budget without resorting to cutbacks and layoffs," said Justin Simon. However, students wouldn't call the budget a "good news" story and instead described it as a "better news" budget due to the tuition fee increase and expansion of the Material Fee. Like many other students' unions across BC, the CNC Students' Union has been campaigning for increased funding and lower tuition fees. "If we want to compete in the 21st Century economy we need an educated workforce," noted Crawford. "That means the BC and Federal governments must properly fund colleges and universities and expand access, instead of gutting funding and increasing tuition fees." i 19 College of New Caledonia - Ion