BUTLER TWP— Butler County Community College wants to stretch its tentacles into Erie County.

College president Nick Neupauer said he sent a letter last week to the county's executive, Mark DiVecchio, stating its interest in opening a campus in that county 100 miles north of Butler.

Interest in putting a campus in the county has been mentioned during the past several years by college officials. This letter formalizes that interest, Neupauer said.

"We're ready to take the next step," he said.

DiVecchio has been cited in Erie newspaper accounts as looking to put a community college in the area to train workers. Neupauer said he met with DiVecchio about a month ago to talk about what community colleges do.

BC3 trustee Dr. William DiCuccio at Wednesday's meeting suggested several ways the college could cater to the Erie market. For example, he said, he learned of a college in New York that used an airport to start an airplane mechanic school.

BC3 is the closest community college to Erie. It has 3,500 students and a $21.3 million budget.

In addition to its main campus off Route 8 south of Butler, the college offers classes in Cranberry Township, and at several sites in Lawrence County and Mercer County.

Tuition for out-of-county students is more costly and brings in more revenue for the college. Butler County residents pay $73 per credit because the county sponsors a portion of the cost. Other Pennsylvania residents pay $166 per credit and out-of-state residents pay $239.

That out-of-county, or non-sponsored, tuition is higher this semester. Because students are taking more credit hours at the out-of-county rate, the college has collected 57 percent, or $1.69 million, of its projected nonsponsored tuition for the year. Normally, the college would only expect to have collected 45 percent of the budgeted amount by the end of September.

Jim Hrabosky, interim vice president for finance and administration, said it's possible that the college will see about $500,000 in additional revenue this year. He said he will do a rebudget in January, if necessary.

Neupauer is confident the college can take on the project in Erie at the same time it is building in Lawrence County. Ground was broken at the former Riley's Fun Spot in Union Township last month for a classroom building that will be the beginning of a campus there.

He said he will work with the Erie community on the project.

"It's in our vision," he said, and a strategic initiative of the college.

Neupauer plans to call DiVecchio this week to follow up on the letter.

A representative from DiVecchio's office did not return a phone call.