State To Help Fund Health Insurance For Community College Employees

lLOCAL and STATE REPORTS — Employees at El Paso Community College stand to get some state funding for health insurance, now thatTexas has earmarked $154 million for those campuses statewide.

The deal was reached today by Governor Rick Perry, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst and Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick.

Community college officials have warned of property tax increases, tuition hikes and program cuts to compensate for the funds Perry vetoed this summer.

In announcing the deal, the leaders are asking college officials to rescind tuition, fee or tax increases adopted for this year or any planned for next year — meant to offset the original veto.

Perry has said he vetoed the money because lawmakers put provisions into the budget forbidding use of state money for benefits of employees whose salaries are paid with local money.

The new money will only go to community college employees who are paid with state funds.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.