BUTLER TWP — The president of Butler County Community College said the proposed increases for community colleges in Gov. Ed. Rendell's budget would allow the school to continue providing programs that benefit the county.

Rendell Wednesday announced his state budget proposal. It includes increases in education funding, including the funding for community colleges.

The state community college operating budget, used for workforce development and credit and non-credit programs, increases 4 percent, to $212.5 million, from the current budget.

The state community college capital budget, which is used for building projects, increases 11 percent, to $37.27 million, from the current budget.

The proposal gives a 4 percent increase in the total state budget for the 14 community colleges.

BC3 won't know for sometime how much of the state money will be directed here, said Lynn Burtner, vice president for finance and administration.

Burtner said the process for distributing the money to individual colleges has changed.

BC3 is guaranteed at least the amount of state money it received for the current budget. Any new money would be given to the school on a pro-rated basis, she said.

In the past, there was a formula to decide how much operating money the college would get from the state.

"We just did the math," Burtner said.

She expects to learn preliminary amounts early this year.

The process to distribute capital money has also changed, although the new process has not been worked out.

Burtner said money is no longer guaranteed to the college.

Historically, when a college wanted to build, it submitted an application to the state. If the application was approved and the college followed regulations, the money was guaranteed to the college.

Cynthia Azari, BC3 president, said she appreciates the governor's proposal.

"It's an excellent start," she said.

The operating budget, she said, is what she had hoped for.

"It enables us to expand programs consistent with our mission," Azari said.

Community college funding comes from three sources: the state, tuition and the college sponsor. BC3's sponsor is the county.

The budget planning process for BC3 began this winter when county commissioners told the college that the county would contribute the same amount as last year. The county works on a calendar-year budget.

Early in the year, the college begins developing its internal budget, creating a planned list of changes, Burtner said. Using preliminary numbers, the college creates a budget that is presented to the finance committee and then the full board of directors.

BC3's current total operating budget is $20.1 million and the total capital budget is $3.27 million. The college works on a fiscal year that begins July 1.

Diane Bosak, executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission of Community Colleges, said the operating budget will allow community colleges to continue providing education for the workforce.

The commission is a nonprofit organization based in Harrisburg that advocates for community colleges.

The capital budget isn't as large as Azari had hoped, she said. Money from the capital budget is divided among the colleges by the colleges.

Atop BC3's capital budget list is a new student service center and bookstore building.

Bosak said the group had asked for a $9 million increase in the capital budget.

"Butler has capital needs," Bosak said.

The size of the capital budget for community colleges has been an on-going dispute, Bosak said.

Before the state budget is finalized, Azari would like to see the capital budget for community colleges increased.

The budget must pass the state House and Senate by June 30 before it is finalized. Either can make changes to the budget.