House Passes Capital Budget (SHB 1165): Johnson Hall Addition Funded
The state House of Representatives unveiled their version of the Capital Budget, a compromise between Republicans and Democrats who share control of that chamber. For WSU, the $133.4 million proposal shares many similarities with the governor`s $140.7 million recommendations. However a major concern is that the document leaves unresolved the fate of the Spokane Health Sciences Building. It uses an unusual funding formula for minor works projects and delays expansion of the Child Care Center in Pullman. The capital budget bill passed the House 93-2 yesterday and now moves to the state Senate. Here are the highlights of the House Capital Budget for WSU:
Johnson Hall Addition (Pre-Design), $300,000. The most significant unmet need in Gov. Gary Locke`s budget, the Johnson Hall project was funded in the House budget. The House decision to fund the project was in part a reaction to lobbying by agricultural groups including the Washington Wheat Commission and the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. The project is also known as the Plant Biotechnology Facility. This is planning money for a proposed addition to Johnson Hall, a Pullman facility that is the largest academic building in the WSU system. The addition will be designed to ease overcrowding at Johnson and provide research laboratories.
Support Grows for the WSU Spokane Health Sciences Building, But Funding Source Uncertain.This is currently WSU`s major area of concern in the capital budget. The House Capital Budget endorsed this project by referencing it at $36.3 million. But this project still relies on other budgets in the Legislature for its source of funding. One plan, suggested by the governor, would be for the state to use supplemental operating budget funds, deposit them in an account to settle a WSU lands trust dispute, and use the interest off those funds to retire the debt on the Spokane Health Sciences building. The state Senate provided for $20 million of the necessary $36.3 million in its supplemental budget. House Republicans have provided about $10 million in supplemental and biennial operating budgets. House Democrats have not identified any funding. Located at Spokane`s Riverpoint Campus, a majority of the building will house programs that are required by statute to be offered in Spokane by Eastern Washington University plus WSU health sciences programs.
AMID/ Landscape Architecture, $2.78 million. Proposed for the East Side of the Pullman campus near Johnson Hall, this building will house programs in Apparel Merchandising and Interior Design as well as in Landscape Architecture. The total project cost is about $30.7 million and is scheduled for construction in 2001-2003. This funding level fully meets the WSU request.
Teaching & Learning Center (Construction), $28.9 million Located near Stadium Way in the heart of the Pullman campus, the Teaching and Learning Center is an innovative classroom building that will provide 1,300 classroom seats and a 2,200 FTE capacity. It is WSU`s highest priority for the Pullman campus. If funded by the Legislature, the building would be constructed in the upcoming biennium. The governor recommended $30 million but the House proposal appears to be sufficient to begin the project.
Childcare Facility-Infant Care, Development Lab Delayed. $563,700 for Design. WSU, the governor and the Legislature had requested $3.1 million to renovate a 6,960-square foot area to complete unfinished space at the WSU Child Care Center. The decision by the House to reduce funding will delay construction about two years. The childcare center is a 41,000-square foot facility that provides daycare for children of students, faculty and staff. This project will consolidate and relocate the infant care program from Commons Hall and the Child Development Laboratory from White Hall.
The WSU Vancouver Engineering/Life Sciences Building (Construction), $27 million. The next and fourth major classroom building for WSU Vancouver will create capacity for 620 more FTE. Funding appears sufficient to begin the project. $250,000 is also provided for pre-design for an additional Vancouver building.
Shock Physics Institute $1.76 million (Design). Recommended by the Governor, HEC Board. The institution is seeking design and construction money for a new facility that would be built near Webster Hall on the Pullman campus to accommodate a discipline where WSU is an established national leader for research and instruction. The governor`s budget recommended $1.83 million but this appears to be adequate funding to begin design.
Scholars Hall Renovation (White Hall), $5 million - The governor recommended $5.4 million for this project but the House level appears to be adequate to begin construction. Honors students will live, study and take classes at the same location.
Also fully funded by the House are these projects: Museum of Art Building (Pre-Design), $125,000; Murrow Hall Addition (Design) $1.65 million; Cleveland Hall Education Addition (Design) $1.4 million; Animal Disease Biotechnology Equipment, $1.2 million; and Spokane Riverpoint Campus Development (Planning) $250,000.
