(RALEIGH) -- Last-minute changes to the $19.3 billion State House budget would do away with thousands of need-based scholarships, according to the leader of the state’s community colleges. House lawmakers approved an amendment that added roughly $40 million in lottery receipts to a public school building fund.

The money was originally slated for need-based financial aid programs. Community college system president Dr. Scott Ralls said the change would eliminate half of all need-based scholarships.

“It’s been a major source of our financial aid that’s funded through the state,” said Ralls. “It’s also not going to be eligible for students and community college students represent close to 50 percent of all college students in North Carolina right now.”

In 2009-10, nearly 15,297 community college students received education lottery scholarships totaling $15.9 million.

Rep. Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, acknowledged Ralls’ concerns, but he defended the decision to cut scholarship money. “At the end of the day we really had a tough choice to make between what the counties needed and what higher [education] needed on this particular issue,” said Moore. “We really felt like we shouldn’t push any more unfunded mandates on the counties.”

Rep. Rick Glazier, D-Cumberland, said lawmakers should have looked at the issue in committee instead of making changes on the House floor. He said the vast majority of those supporting the amendment probably didn’t realize the impact on thousands of needy students.

Moore said he hopes lawmakers can restore need-based aid before the final budget is passed. “I’m committed to seeing that if we find additional money – either through Escheats Fund or other sources – that we try to put some of that money back in for those scholarships.”