Michigan's community colleges will get a raise of at least 3 percent in the next academic year, but each college's funding will depend on meeting certain standards.
A conference committee agreed Tuesday to spend $8.5 million more on community colleges for a total of $294 million. Community colleges must meet certain "best practices" and other measures to get their full amount.
They'll also get $1.7 million to help pay for employees' future retirement health care costs. That money will go into the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement system to pay down unfunded liabilities.
Based on the compromise, Southwestern Michigan College with campuses near Dowagiac and Niles will get the smallest increase, at 3.1 percent. Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor will get the largest increase at 4.6 percent.
