On Monday, Boundary County commissioners approved Sunday sales at the state-run liquor store.

"All of the liquor tax supports NIC tuition and that is the reason it is so important to me to generate this added revenue," Boundary County Commissioner Chairman Ron Smith said.

Smith and commissioner Walt Kirby voted for the resolution. Commissioner Dan Dinning voted against the resolution, citing moral reasons.

Proceeds are used to help pay for Boundary County's portion of NIC tuition for high school and Boundary County resident who attend the community college.

Each resident is allowed a lifetime maximum $3,000 toward NIC tuition.

"I go into the courthouse every day," Smith said. "There is not a day when I don't have two or three applications for the NIC funding."

The state liquor store would either add six more hours to an existing employee's hours, spread the hours out among part-time employees, or perhaps hire another employee to cover the day.

The store would be open five hours - most likely noon to 5 p.m., said Kirby.

The manager of the liquor store thinks it can sell $3,000 in liquor per Sunday. The revenue would be a portion of the extra $156,000 per year in sales, all of which would go to the NIC program.

The county also receives 6 percent sales tax on liquor sales which goes into its general fund.

Boundary County residents interested in applying for the $3,000 NIC funding can get an application at the commissioners office on the second floor of the courthouse.