WESSON &045; For the fourth time in five years Copiah-Lincoln Community College is probably going to have to raise tuition.

President Howell Garner said the higher learning budget numbers finalized by the Legislature over the weekend would leave the community college with a shortfall that will have to be made up by a tuition hike.

&uot;My guess is that we’ll raise tuition by 50 dollars,&uot; Garner said. &uot;That’s a guess.&uot;

As far as tuition increases go, a $50 increase is on the low end. In recent years, Co-Lin has had one $50 increase and three $100 increases.

The final decision won’t come until Thursday’s scheduled board meeting, though, when board members will be presented with all the numbers and several scenarios.

Garner said even with a finalized state budget, there were still questions about what money was available for what projects.

&uot;We really don’t know exactly how much we are going to have; we think we know,&uot; he said.

Garner said he still has questions about who will pay retirement costs and health insurance and what state money is earmarked for certain uses.

&uot;My guess is it’s going to require $50 to be close to keeping up,&uot; he said. &uot;I don’t anticipate going up more than $50.&uot;

Co-Lin tuition this year was $850, including student fees. The $50 increase would put the school even with Southwest Community College and just above Hinds Community College, Garner said.

&uot;Hopefully we are done with this kind of thing after this year,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s painful to go up on tuition, one of the things we are about is access to education.&uot;

Garner said he doesn’t think a $50 increase will hit many of his students too hard though. More than half of the school’s students receive financial aid through the Pell Grant, which will still be enough to cover $900 tuition for those that qualify.

&uot;We are in the same situation as other community colleges and universities,&uot; he said. &uot;Others are going up too. Some will be up $100, some will be up more than $100.&uot;

Garner said he didn’t expect to go up on the price of meal tickets or housing, things that have increase in the past.

With a $50 increase, the school’s budget will remain tight, but further cuts to staff or supplies won’t be necessary, he said.

&uot;We have already cut considerably,&uot; Garner said. &uot;There’s just not a lot left to cut in terms of supplies. We won’t cut more, we’ll just be conscious of spending and we won’t increase expenditures.&uot;

The faculty salary schedule would also stay the same.

Tuition is the same in Natchez as it is on the main Wesson campus.