February 11, 1995 - WSU PUSHES FOR CRITICAL K-12, HIGHER ED
PROJECTS
In testimony before the House Capital Budget Committee, Washington
State University has urged House members to take one-time supplemental
operating budget reserves available for this current biennium
and spend more of them on K-12 school construction projects.
Additional cash spending for K-12 school projects will allow the
state to match voter-approved school bond elections across the
state. Legislators such as House Capital Budget Chair Barry Sehlin
have indicated that action could also give legislators additional
capacity in the 1995-97 capital budget to better fund higher education
construction projects within state bonded spending limits. WSU
is urging its supporters to join with local K-12 school districts
in supporting this approach, which will benefit all of the state's
educational system, from kindergarten to graduate school. The
supplemental budget, Substitute Senate Bill 5103, is now in the
House.
HIGHER ED BUILDING PROBLEM: MORE STUDENTS, LESS CONSTRUCTION
Gov. Mike Lowry's capital construction proposal, now under
consideration by both houses, provides for only about half of
the state-bonded building activity for Washington State University
for the upcoming biennium and no new funding for critical WSU
branch campus projects and the Spokane Joint Center for Higher
Education (which oversees construction that could give a permanent
home to WSU Spokane.) Reductions in capital spending levels come
at a time when WSU is experiencing large increases in enrollments
at all of its campuses as high schools graduate more and more
students. For instance, WSU Pullman is expected to have 1,500
students over current budgeted levels by the end of next biennium.
Complicating matters, House leadership is reportedly committed
to a capital budget that will be still less than the level recommended
by the governor in order to provide for additional tax cuts.
Washington State University - New State Construction Bond Funding
Calculated by the House Capital Budget Committee Staff
Current 1993-95 $89.4 million
Governor Proposed 1995-97 $46.89 million
UNMET NEEDS IN THE GOVERNOR`s CAPITAL BUDGET FOR WSU:
- Renovation of Thompson Hall, WSU's third largest
classroom building, more than 100 years old and on the National
Registry of Historic Places. The $8.659 million renovation would
provide larger classrooms for WSU to accommodate additional student
enrollments in Pullman, especially for general education courses.
- Wheat Research Facility (the governor funded $3 million
of a $4 million state request) for an $8 million research greenhouses
and related facilities in Pullman. The Washington Wheat Commission
has committed $1 million toward the project with additional moneys
anticipated in federal funds. Design funds have already been
provided by Congress for this project. Lack of such facilities
in Pullman has recently hurt faculty recruitment efforts.
- Consolidated Information Center for WSU Tri-Cities.
WSU and the federal General Services Administration have signed
an agreement in which the federal government plans to pay for
half of the $15 million construction cost, but the governor provided
no funding for this library facility and has delayed the project
at least two years. If this project proceeds, it will provide
additional classroom space in existing WSU Tri-Cities facilities.
- Early Childhood Education Facility for WSU Vancouver.
A $9.066 million request for classroom and teaching laboratories
to complete the first phase of the new Vancouver campus. This
facility will also provide critical day care services in Vancouver
for WSU students and employees, and site preparation for future
development.
- Spokane Riverpoint Project. Terry Novak, acting co-director
of the Spokane Joint Center for Higher Education, reports that
the governor's budget "effectively grinds to a halt"
development of Spokane higher education projects. The Joint Center
is seeking legislative support for buildings, the first of which
includes a permanent home for WSU Spokane and Eastern Washington
University health science programs.
