UNION TWP, Lawrence County — Butler County Community College Trustees approved a $26.6 million budget for the next school year Wednesday afternoon, which includes a small tuition hike.

Trustees and faculty met at the college’s Lawrence Crossing facility, near New Castle.

They approved a $3 per credit increase for in-county students taking fewer than 12 or more than 17 credits, making the new cost $96 per credit. Butler County students taking between 12 and 17 credits, a standard full-time course-load, will be charged a flat rate of $1,440.

New out-of-county student rates are up $6, to $192 per credit hour and $2,880 per semester; new out-of-state student rates are up $9, to $288 per credit and $4,320 per semester.

“Affordability is important to us ... so we think this is fair,” said Nick Neupauer, BC3 president. “This will allow us to weather the storm for the year.”

Trustee Dick Rittelmann also chimed in about the college’s priority to be affordable. Students pay less than what their education is worth, which adds up to about $5,600 when factoring in the amount of operating costs divided by the number of students taking classes.

The school receives subsidies from the state and county. Therefore, students aren’t saddled with the full price of their education.

“That ought to be recognized,” Rittelmann said. “It’s one of the best buys in education.”

Also, because the number of credits students take at the school is down about 10 percent from this time last year, the budget reflected a 5 percent decrease in credit revenue, from $11.3 million to $10.7 million.

While the credit numbers were down, Jim Hrabosky, vice president for finance and administration, said non-credit income was up this year. The school took in nearly $998,000 from non-credit classes, which was about $285,000 more than originally anticipated.

The budget for the 2014-15 school year, at $26.6 million, is about 2.6 percent less than last year’s budget, which was $27.3 million.

Projects in the coming year at BC3 include a playground and outdoor learning space for the Children’s Creative Learning Center on campus, which is already under way, and major renovations to the John A. Beck Library, which will be funded through a state grant, donations and fund balance dollars.