BUTLER TWP — Tuition and fees will remain the same for the coming school year at Butler County Community College.

The college board of trustees Wednesday approved the 2008-09 $26 million budget that keeps tuition and fees for students at $93 a class credit.

This is the second consecutive year that the board did not increase tuition.

Jim Hrabosky, vice president for finance and administration, said the 2008-09 budget is based on a 2 percent to 3 percent increase in student enrollment.

In the fall, the college had 3,853 full-time credit students.

"We think we can live within our means without increasing tuition and fees," Hrabosky said.

The $25.7 million budget is a 3.6 percent increase from this year's budget. The largest increases are for salaries and benefits, which are $17.5 million of the budget. Hrabosky said he budgeted a 12 percent increase in utilities as well.

But, he said, the college doesn't plan to pay for any building projects in the next budget, while it had several such projects in the current budget.

That lack of such projects along with about a $98,000 draw down on the fund balance and a 3.8 percent increase in state money keeps tuition and fees in check.

The college is funded by three sources: the state, the county, and tuition. County contributions remain the same in this budget.

Students who live outside Butler County do not receive the benefit of county dollars and pay $166 in tuition and fees; out-of-state students pay $239.

College president Nick Neupauer said he is pleased with the budget and how costs are kept under control.