Ohio University might get about $18.6 million from the state to help alleviate the costly burden of repairing the university’s aging buildings.
The Ohio Higher Education Capital Funding Collaborative released a capital funding plan that allocates $400 million to state colleges and universities during the 2013–14 budget cycle.
Although OU was hoping to receive about $23.7 million from the state, the plan recommends giving $18.6 million to the Athens campus and $3.5 million to regional campus construction projects.
“The state funds recommended by the committee … will go toward essential deferred maintenance for our existing facilities,” OU Vice President for Finance and Administration Stephen Golding said in a statement.
The capital-funding committee, headed by Ohio State University President E. Gordon Gee, took recommendations from each public college and university in Ohio and decided which projects should receive funding.
“I thought this was a very fair process, a way to prioritize the needs of universities and community colleges across the state,” OU President Roderick McDavis said. “We’re very pleased with the inclusive process.”
The committee submitted the plan to Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday, and if he approves it, the plan will move on to the state legislature.
During a conference call Wednesday, Kasich praised the college and university presidents for working together to decide which capital projects should be priorities for state funding. Previously, capital funding for public colleges and universities has been based on a formula rather than the decision of a committee.
“What we were able to achieve in this capital bill is unprecedented,” Kasich said.
“It is really a change, and I’m thrilled with it.”
The state has not passed a capital bill since 2008.
If the capital plan passes the state legislature, Alden Library would receive $2.7 million in state funding for a major renovation that is estimated to cost $33.4 million total.
OU’s six-year capital improvement plan, which the university submitted to the state committee, listed the Alden Library renovation as a priority for possible state funding. It is the only renovation slated to receive funding from the state, according to the committee’s capital plan. Funding for the Schoonover Center for Communication and McCracken Hall renovation projects was not included in the committee’s plan.
OU plans to fund those projects not slated for state funding through $160 million in debt financing, $3 million in funds from the university’s operating budget and some private donations.
pe219007@ohiou.edu
