Lone Star College System has increased tuition by $2 per credit hour amid rising student enrollment this semester.

Funding from the state for the 2016-17 budget has not changed.

“The actual dollar amount the state of Texas provides Lone Star College has remained relatively flat,” said Amos McDonald, LSCS vice chancellor of government and public relations. “The tremendous student enrollment growth Lone Star College has experienced and the general growth of our service area has caused the percent of revenue the state funds to be smaller.”

During an Aug. 4 board meeting, the LSCS board of trustees approved a $347.7 million budget for the 2016-17 school year.

A public hearing for the proposed tax rate of $10.78 per $100 of valuation will be held Sept. 14 and 19. The board will make a final decision during the Oct. 6 board meeting.

In addition to the tuition increase, the budget includes a $4 per credit hour increase in differential fees, Head said.

“We’re in the right place,” Head said. “That takes some of the pressure off of tuition and some of the issues we might have with the state.”

This semester, LSCS hired 20 new faculty members, and all full-time and part-time employees will receive a 2 percent pay increase, according to the adopted budget.

“The [American Federation of Teachers] expresses its support for three budget items that relate to payroll and urges passage of all three,” said John Burghduff, LSCS math professor and AFT representative.

Head said the board is cautiously evaluating necessary campus updates, looking to the college system’s current bond as a funding source.

“This is like your house,” Head said. “You put money aside for repair and replacement.”