United Tribes Technical College will receive the remainder of its federal funding for 2007.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs agreed to continue UTTC's funding for fiscal year 2007 at its 2006 level.

"Basically, it is the same amount as last year," UTTC President David Gipp said. "It is level funding."

The tribal college had to rely on the BIA designating funding because the appropriations process stalled and the president cut the funding from his budget. It is part of an ongoing battle for UTTC to receive its federal funding, which it relies on to cover the bulk of its operation.

Congress' continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, will provide UTTC $1.6 million. It received $1.9 million through Feb. 15 from an earlier continuing resolution.

"It all makes it very possible to continue our operation. … We will not have an interruption of services," Gipp said.

The total appropriation, $3.5 million, is the same amount it received for fiscal year 2006. A bill last summer had asked for $4 million, but never made it out of the appropriations committee.

"United Tribes Technical College was always funded in the president's budget, but (President) Bush dropped it and Congress funded it," Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said.

Dorgan and Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., made a push for funding the tribal college.

Without an increase in its appropriation, the college had to minimize its expenses in light of increased costs. Utilities, maintenance, supplies and equipment are among the expenditures that increased for 2007, Gipp said.

"We will look at what next year means," he said.

Bush has zeroed out funding for UTTC five years in a row. Restoration of the funding has involved letter writing and phone calls from the congressional delegation, Gov. John Hoeven and other state officials.

United Tribes Technical College and Navajo Technical College in Crownpoint, N.M., will be included in the budget under a merit-based program based on how they support American Indian education.

This will be easy for UTTC to prove, Gipp said. They have a yearly economic impact study that shows its contributions to the state. For every $1 invested in UTTC, there is a return of $20, Gipp said.

"I'm very proud of what they are doing," Dorgan said.