BOISE - A large chunk of North Idaho College's $10.8 million state funding request for the upcoming fiscal year will be used, if it is approved by state lawmakers, to expand the college's programs in Sandpoint.

President Joe Dunlap presented NIC's funding request to the Idaho Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee in Boise on Monday.

"We have submitted a budget that represents an approach of fiscal responsibility and accountability, with very modest requests in areas such as benefit costs and inflationary adjustments," Dunlap told the committee.

Gov. Butch Otter's recommended state funding allocation for NIC is $10.4 million.

Dunlap said the $400,000 gap was not reflective of a differing perspective on the state of the economy between the college and the governor.

"We just made our request based on what the needs are," Dunlap said.

NIC's state funding request includes $302,300 to expand programs at the college's Sandpoint Outreach Center.

Otter recommended $226,700 for the same project.

In an interview, Dunlap said the potential Sandpoint program expansion would include funding for a medical assistant program being developed, and the college's new physical therapist assistant program.

"And the question then becomes, when can we bring those (programs) up there?" Dunlap said. "The earliest would be this next fall."

Dunlap noted that a science lab is already in place at the Sandpoint Outreach Center because of the fundraising efforts of the citizens of Sandpoint.

He told state lawmakers that Coeur d'Alene-based NIC - which has three outreach centers in North Idaho - has an annual $164.6 million economic impact in Kootenai, Shoshone, Bonner, Boundary and Benewah counties.

NIC's current general fund budget includes a $10.3 million state allocation, which represents about 23 percent of the college's $44.8 million budget.

Other main funding sources include tuition and fees, which added $15.3 million to this year's budget, and $13.8 million in property taxes. The college also receives a $4 million state allocation for professional-technical education.

In addition to the potential Sandpoint expansion funds, NIC also requested $84,200 for increases in employee compensation. The governor's recommendation makes no allowance for pay hikes.