SCHENECTADY COUNTY — Schenectady County Community College’s accredited music program will remain on campus, but will expand into a smaller, less expensive addition, county officials said Friday.

Following discussions with the county, the college has reduced the scope of the project by more than 5,000 square feet. The scaled-back addition will be constructed onto the Begley Building at a cost of $3.9 million, saving $1.5 million off the original project cost. The college had previously proposed a $5.4 million, 20,000-square-foot addition.

The addition will contain eight music practice rooms and offices for faculty, space that the National Association of Schools of Music said SCCC needs to maintain its accreditation. It eliminates a recording studio and space for the theater program.

The music program has outgrown its current space because of increased enrollment based on its growing reputation, college officials said.

In a news release, Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan E. Savage, D-Niskayuna, said the revised plan represents “substantial savings for the taxpayer and new ways that the county and SCCC will work together to promote economic development. We are pleased with the outcome of this effort.”

Music Department Chairman William Meckley, who was unaware of the news release, said the county’s announcement was wonderful. “It was a long time coming and we look forward to it,” he said.

He said music department faculty and students and college officials wanted to keep the music program intact and on the campus. “It maintains the integrity of the program and that is really important for us,” he said.

SCCC President Gabe Basil said in a news release that the revised project “will have a significant positive impact on the college, our music program and its students, as well as the local community.”

Savage sparked a firestorm last year when she suggested the college move some or all of the music program downtown rather than build the addition.

In earlier interviews, Savage said the proposed move would save the county money and would help the college with future expansion efforts.

The college is proposing $78 million in capital projects over the next six years. The county’s share would be $39 million. The county is experiencing a deficit estimated at $10 million going into the 2009 budget year and is seeking ways to contain costs.

The county and college were at loggerheads during most of last year over the project. When the college last spring asked the county to release the $2.7 million, which would allow the construction project to proceed to the state level for funding, the county demurred and repeated its request that the college consider downtown.

The college subsequently missed the deadline for state funding, delaying the construction for more than a year.

County legislators said the Legislature has a vested interest in the college as it provides an annual subsidy of $1.9 million. The subsidy is among the lowest sponsor contributions in the state.

Savage said the county and SCCC will explore other ways to meet the needs of the theater program, including examining the use of downtown venues. She also said the music department has agreed to work closely with Proctors and other venues to present performances downtown.

The revised music program will be included in the county’s proposed 2009 capital budget.