COEUR d'ALENE - The North Idaho College budget for next year will grow by $2.3 million.

Trustees on Wednesday approved a 2013-14 budget that raises the general fund from $42.7 million to $44.8 million without a tax hike.

"There was no desire to look at property taxes," said Mark Browning, NIC's vice president of community relations. "From the (president's) cabinet standpoint, that wasn't even a discussion. We have needs but we're very cognizant of where the local taxpayers are at."

More than half of the increased general fund revenue, $1.2 million, will come from a change in the tuition structure. Students taking 12 to 16 credits now pay a flat rate for tuition. That window will be removed, and all students will pay the same price. The state's other community colleges have the same structure in place.

The budget also reflects an increase of $352,400 in state general funds. Included in that amount is a $250,000 line item for dual credit for high school students taking classes at NIC.

"We're really appreciative of that," Browning said. "That's an area where there is huge need and huge potential."

The new budget also reflects a $5 per credit tuition hike that will place $600,000 in a dedicated fund to pay for instructional equipment.

Browning said the funds will be used when specialized classroom equipment, like microscopes or wheel-balancing machines, breaks down during the year when replacement funds aren't generally available.

"If something breaks, it can't be replaced for another year," Browning said. "That impacts the quality of instruction our students receive."

Wages will remain flat next year, with no salary increase included in the budget.

The board and administration realize that pay must be competitive to retain quality faculty and staff, Browning said.

"The board decided if you need to request a tax increase, we're not going to do that," he said.

They also considered that the Legislature didn't appropriate funds for state raises, Browning said, and based their decision on the advice of the college's human resources director that the college's pay scale would remain competitive for another year without an increase.

The budgeting for next year also includes an anticipated 5 percent enrollment decline.