College of Western Idaho leaders may slash their first operating budget by a quarter to avoid breaking a promise to voters to keep property taxes down.

The school could cut this year's budget to $12 million from $16 million - a reduction that would require it to postpone hiring about eight support staff, reduce rented classroom space in local high schools and trim tutorial staff.

No existing CWI staff would be laid off, and there is no plan to reduce the number of faculty the school would eventually hire.

Administrators also propose reducing their 2010 budget from $18.1 million to $16.9 million.

CWI's board of trustees has not yet decided whether to accept the proposed cuts.

When the college was approved last fall, supporters promised to keep property taxes low. But last month, CWI board Chairman Jerry Hess hinted that the board may have to back away from that pledge in order to provide the Treasure Valley a first-rate, 21st century-style community college.

Some Treasure Valley residents sharply criticized the board for even thinking of reneging on the promise, and some board members said they weren't prepared to ask property owners for more money.

Budgets for both years would keep the property tax revenue at about $5 million, or $11.39 per $100,000 of taxable value. Some trustees say that was the promise campaign supporters made to voters in Ada and Canyon counties in May 2007. Others argue the promise was to keep the property tax contribution at $4 million a year - that's what the $11.39 rate would have brought in under last year's taxable values.

Part of the school's revenue for 2009 is based on getting 1,700 students when the doors open in January 2009. They would bring an estimated $1.9 million in revenue if they all show up.

CWI officials say they are about to launch a marketing campaign they think could draw up to 1,000 new students and about 700 students transferring from other schools, such as Boise State University.

Earlier this month, the board of trustees asked CWI administrators to redo their proposed budgets for 2009 and 2010.

Now that it has a list of cuts before it, board members will have to determine "what is the financial consequence to the institution," said Hess.

Among the cuts under considerations:

Eliminating golf carts to get back and forth from Aspen Creek, a business complex near the CWI campus in Nampa where administrators are planning to rent space.

Eliminate three administrative assistant positions.

Cut out a director for the school's Canyon County Center.

Drop plans for a full-time librarian for a couple of years.

Bill Roberts: 377-6408