CHEYENNE - In the beginning, Wyoming community college officials said they didn't want any state money. They wanted to be independent.

Times have changed since the seven colleges were set up. They now receive substantial state funding and work under the administrative umbrella of the Wyoming Community College Commission.

This year five of the colleges asked the Legislature to pay for several capital construction projects, the top priorities of the commission.

Wyoming House members voted against going down this road on Wednesday when they rejected the $59 million budget request.

House members said the Legislature paid for some college construction 20 or so years ago, but not in recent years.

"This is a departure from the way we have been doing business," said House Speaker Randall Luthi, R-Freedom.

If the Legislature votes to pay for college construction projects, they will become part of all future budgets, Luthi added.

Other opponents warned that the state could wind up paying for all college construction as it does now with school capital construction at a cost of about $1 billion.

Rep. Pete Jorgensen, D-Jackson, a member of the Joint Appropriations Committee which earlier refused to pay for the college projects, said he agreed with Luthi's statement that this would be a new trend for the state.

Money is in the budget, he said, for two studies related to changes in the funding model for the community colleges.

The projects rejected for state funding are:

* A new "intertribal center" at Central Wyoming College in Riverton.

* A new residence hall at Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington.

* A new student commons area at Sheridan College.

* A new residence hall at Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs

* A performing arts center/health sciences building at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne.

Rep. Frank Philp, R-Shoshoni, a co-chairman of the Joint Appropriations Committee, said he would like to support the project for Central Wyoming College, which is in his district.

However, "I can't vote for anything that puts us further under water," Philp said, referring to concerns about deficit spending.

The House also voted down an attempt to add $17 million to the budget to bring state employee pay up to market levels. But the members voted 28-22 to spend $6.7 million to help state retirees with their health insurance costs.

Sponsors of other amendments to the budget withdrew them because so many members were off the floor late Wednesday afternoon. They said they will bring them up today when the budget comes up again.

One of those withdrawn amendments, sponsored by Rep. Ann Robinson, D-Casper, would exempt groceries from the state sales tax for two years.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Casper, will introduce an identical amendment to the budget in the Senate.

Capital bureau reporter Joan Barron can be reached at (307) 632-1244 or at joan.barron@casperstartribune.net.