NORWICH – The bills coming in for students attending out-of-county community colleges this year are significantly higher than previously budgeted, according to Chenango County Treasurer William E. Evans.

“They could be over budget in the $40,000 to $50,000 range,” he said. Traditionally, taxpayers pay about $750,000 for college charge backs each year.

About 480 local students attend community colleges outside Chenango. The majority enroll in Broome, Herkimer, Thompkins Cortland Community and Mohawk colleges. The number of students enrolled at TC3 more than doubled this year, Evans said.

“This is a good thing. An indicator of people going to get an education,” he told members of the Finance Committee Thursday.