Check tomorrow’s issue of The Post and follow @ThePostCampus for more information.
________________________________________
On a conference call Thursday morning with reporters, state education leaders including Ohio University President Roderick McDavis reviewed a $404 million 2015-16 budget proposal that should be introduced in the state legislature in February.
McDavis, who chairs the Higher Education Funding Commission 2.0, steered the morning’s conversation regarding the capital budget recommendations that were put forward by all 37 institutions within the state of Ohio.
The state legislature will determine how much of funding is appropriated to improve higher education and public-service infrastructure.
Allocating more than $400 million toward renovations and maintenance projects, the proposal, as McDavis noted, offers much more than the $350 million from the state during the last few years.
"Highest priority is deferred maintenance," he said.
Almost 90 percent of the proposal investments would go toward maintenance for different capital projects. Only about 2 percent would go toward new expansion projects and 1.9 percent would go to constructing brand new facilities.
McDavis called for investments in higher education to focus on modernization of classrooms, reducing operating expenses and enhancing technology.
Gov. John Kasich applauded McDavis and other commission members for the “collaborative efforts" with his administration.
“I cannot salute these presidents enough," Kasich said, calling the relationship "unique."
hy135010@ohiou.edu
@HannahMYang
