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.