Maine Community College System trustees approved a state budget request today that would increase spending by 4.5 percent in each of the next two academic years.

If approved early next year by Gov. John Baldacci and the Maine Legislature, the funding request for the state's seven community colleges would add roughly $2.2 million each year to the current $56.2 million appropriation, said system spokeswoman Helen Pelletier.

In passing the budget request, system officials noted that enrollment of degree-seeking students is 64 percent higher than it was when Maine converted its technical colleges to community colleges six years ago.

The board of trustees also authorized the creation of New England's first associate degree program in wind power technology at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle.

System officials noted that while the budget request addresses rising energy, health care and retirement costs, they anticipate having to reduce spending in all areas to stay in the black.

"We are painfully aware of both the fiscal constraints facing the state and the enrollment pressures placed on our colleges," said Daniel Wathen, trustees' chairman. "This request addresses most of our current needs, but it does not enable us to expand our capacity to serve many hundreds of people across the state who need additional education in order to gain a foothold in this economy."