This paper describes studies by Fonte (1993), Garrett (1992-93), and Ingram and Tollefson (1996) regarding state funding and control of community colleges. This article compares each of the three studies and contrasts the results. All research was based on questionnaires returned by 44 state directors of community colleges. Garrett concluded that state systems funded by more than 50 percent of state funds tend to have centralized governance structures, and those funded by local funds greater than 25 percent tend to have decentralized governance structures. Fonte's three primary conclusions were concerned with the effects of various state financial regulations on a college's ability to fulfill local needs for economic development, access, and "community resident programming." Ingram and Tollefson found that effective decision making in community colleges exists primarily at the local level. A table displays state shares of community college operating budgets, compared to state centralization of control, as perceived by each of the three studies. The article concludes that, based partly on the information provided by these studies, other political factors and traditions are more important determinants of state control over community colleges than the proportion of operating support provided by the state. (AS)