For the third consecutive year, North Idaho College trustees decided to balance the college's budget by increasing tuition rather than levying additional property taxes.

The $44.2 million general fund budget approved for fiscal year 2016 includes a $561,000 increase over the previous year's budget, and was developed using a forecasted 10 percent decline in student enrollment that is primarily offset by the tuition hike.

Students living in Kootenai County will now pay $5 more per credit, reflecting a 3.9 percent increase. Students living outside the county will pay $8 more per credit.

The budget was approved by a vote of 3-2 with Trustees Ron Nilson and Todd Banducci casting the opposing votes.

Before the second reading of the budget and its subsequent adoption, Nilson lobbied for the board to postpone making a decision until it could have additional discussion about the declining enrollment and employee compensation. The motion failed.

The approved budget also includes a "two-step" salary increase for college employees. The salary step system in place at NIC calls for regular pay grade hikes based on experience, and it has been frozen for the past two years. The 2016 budget includes $550,675 more for salaries and benefits than the 2015 budget.

"How do we consider passing a budget without having a wage comparison against other community colleges in the same state that we reside in and Spokane?" Nilson said.

He said he finds it frustrating that the board seems unwilling to "talk about accountability" or look at cutting salaries and benefits as a way to address declining enrollment.

"We never talk about that, but we're talking about raising tuition for an 18-year-old kid that wants to get an education," Nilson said.

Banducci suggested several times during the meeting that they consider giving the employees a "one-step" pay hike and use the remaining funds to eliminate the $5 per credit tuition increase for local students.

"I think it is clear this board does want to talk about accountability," said Trustee Ken Howard, noting that the enrollment decline is not unique to NIC but happening at colleges nationwide and is reflective of the improved economy.

Howard said he's seen the board approve budgets for the last three years without raising taxes.

"That's accountability," he said.

Board chair Christie Wood said the increased salary funding in the budget is not a "raise," but rather returning to the employees money to which they are entitled under the step system that is built into board policy.

NIC President Joe Dunlap reminded the board that the college has reduced its operating budget over the last three years as enrollment has declined. He said it has 62 fewer full-time employees than it did when enrollment peaked several years ago, and has added about a dozen technical education programs by winning grant funds.

Dunlap said the college is willing to discuss philosophical differences about salaries and benefits.

"But to hold the budget hostage because of those differences, the timing just doesn't work," Dunlap said.

Following the meeting, Nilson said it's challenging for someone from the private sector to advocate on behalf of the public when it comes to higher education.

"I think tonight was an example of what is wrong with our education system," he said.