College of Southern Idaho officials want legislators this session to double the community college tuition cap and the amount of liquor funds appropriated to community colleges.

The proposed changes are being jointly pushed by CSI, North Idaho College and the College of Western Idaho, CSI officials said.

The colleges want politicians to more than double the in-state annual tuition cap from $1,250 to $2,500.

Current law limits community college tuition, though individual schools set their own fees.

CSI's elected board of trustees raised tuition slightly in April, pushing the college closer to the cap. The board also raised student fees and housing rates effective this school year.

"CSI and NIC are nearing the limit and will be unable to increase tuition under the current law," according to the 2008 CSI Legislative agenda.

Full-time tuition and student fees are $1,050 per semester for those living in the tax district of Jerome and Twin Falls counties. That includes a $50 increase, with $35 toward tuition, $5 for registration and $10 for athletics. Under current state law, fees can't be included in the tuition cap. So they're charged in excess of tuition.

The state's community colleges also want legislators to double the money they receive annually from the state's liquor account - from $300,000 to $600,000.

The state's liquor account has appropriated $300,000 to community colleges since 1982, CSI officials say. That school and NIC split the appropriation equally.

But the creation of the new tax district for CWI in Nampa, set to open fall 2008, changes the calculation. The liquor money will be split into thirds, and CSI administrators are concerned about the potential loss of $50,000 from their cut.

If the Legislature agrees to double the liquor fund appropriation to community colleges CSI would get $200,000 - or $50,000 more.

Other CSI legislative requests include:

Online development: $226,300 to expand and improve online courses, with CSI hiring a firm to handle the system. The college would also use these funds to hire a design teacher, who would teach faculty about online courses.

Student financial aid: CSI wants legislators to increase state funding for student aid - but they haven't attached a dollar amount to that wish, according to the college's legislative agenda.

About 70 percent of CSI students receive financial assistance, and the college supports need-based aid "as the top priority followed by" merit-based assistance.

The average total indebtedness for CSI graduates with student loans was $7,370 for the 2006-2007 school year, according to the college.

Livestock, environmental studies: CSI wants legislators to fund a livestock and environmental studies research center in the Magic Valley, although no specific funding requests were made.

"In addition to research and agricultural credit courses conducted by the University of Idaho, partnerships with CSI will provide needed professional-technical and lower division agricultural science opportunities for CSI students," the agenda shows.

Andrea Gates can be reached at 735-3380, or Andrea.Gates@lee.net