CHENANGO COUNTY – County executives are voicing concerns over pending changes to the state’s proof of residency requirement for community college students which, according to them, could raise the risk of overpaying the local share of community college costs.

Worries stem from a letter received from the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) detailing the state’s proposed changes to certificate of occupancy requirements which counties provide as proof of residency to community college students. Those changes include permissions for students to sign certificates electronically, or perhaps not sign at all.

What’s more, changes may give the State University of New York (SUNY) authority to determine valid proof of residency, whereas counties have previously relied on items such as tax returns, driver’s license, or mailing address to prove residency.

New York State began the community college model in the 1960s as a way to spare students the financial burden of college by evenly splitting costs among students and parents, counties, and the state.

One of the problems, says Chenango County Treasurer Bill Craine, is that the formula has changed over the years. Whereas the county once paid a third of community college costs while a third was covered by students and another third by the state, the weight has shifted to place more financial burden on counties and students. Counties now foot about 40% of the bill for community college tuition, students pay about 40%, and the state bears about 20%.