The final approval to reinstate the Good Neighbor Policy – at least on a limited basis – between California and Nevada became a reality this week.

The board of regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education gave the green light, which came months after both governors signed off on the deal. The new policy should be in place by fall.

“This Interstate Attendance Agreement reduces the cost of attending Lake Tahoe Community College for the Nevada residents in the Tahoe basin by 46 percent, a savings of over $3,500 per year for a full-time student,” Lake Tahoe Community College President Kindred Murillo told Lake Tahoe News. “For California residents, it means a reduced cost for attending Western Nevada College, as this is especially important because WNC provides some programs LTCC does not. This ensures additional access for students, and less duplication of programs.”

Until 2011, there had been a policy in place that allowed Nevada basin residents to attend LTCC at California rates, plus a small fee. Nevada did away with that law. Much of it had to do with politics, which is also the reason the two states took so long to come to another agreement.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report