Print Version
Email this story
Comment
OIT waits to fund next phase
June 28, 2007
Oregon Institute of Technology will have to wait several months to receive full funding for phase two of the Center for Health Professions.
A bill authorizing money for improvement projects at state universities, including $5.5 million in state lottery funds for completion of the OIT center, is headed to Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s desk after passing the House 59-1 Wednesday morning. That is $3.5 million short of what OIT officials needed to wrap up the project.
State lawmakers said that conversations between Oregon university system officials and lawmakers resulted in a guaranteed $5.5 million now with a resolution to secure the remaining $3.5 million during a special session in February. The arrangement will allow construction to continue seamlessly while the state secures the additional funds, they said.
February will be key
The state has approved all of the debt it legally can for now. Waiting until February will allow the state to pay off some of it and approve more bonds.
House Bill 5516 includes $233 million in state funds for capital construction at state universities and colleges. The amount is double what the state provided for similar projects in the last biennium.
750 more students
Construction for phase one of the center — an 80,000-square-foot building — started last year. The bond is intended to match $12 million raised locally to complete the project’s second phase. Construction on the second phase was scheduled to start in 2008. The new center is expected to add 750 students and 19 faculty members to the campus.
Kulongoski has supported the facility and included its funding in his recommended budget. However, co-chairs of the Ways and Means committee, state Sen. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, and state Rep. Mary Nolan, D-Portland, cut funding for higher education capital projects in their recommended budget. Klamath County legislators have worked since that time to restore funding for the project.
Full amount in doubt
OIT officials heard Thursday that the school might not receive the fully requested amount for the bond. Provost and acting OIT president David Woodall said that without the full $9 million, school officials would have to look at what construction could be completed and the building would not be to the planned capacity.
-- Ty Beaver
Oregon Institute of Technology will have to wait several months to receive full funding for phase two of the Center for Health Professions.
A bill authorizing money for improvement projects at state universities, including $5.5 million in state lottery funds for completion of the OIT center, is headed to Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s desk after passing the House 59-1 Wednesday morning. That is $3.5 million short of what OIT officials needed to wrap up the project.
State lawmakers said that conversations between Oregon university system officials and lawmakers resulted in a guaranteed $5.5 million now with a resolution to secure the remaining $3.5 million during a special session in February. The arrangement will allow construction to continue seamlessly while the state secures the additional funds, they said.
February will be key
The state has approved all of the debt it legally can for now. Waiting until February will allow the state to pay off some of it and approve more bonds.
House Bill 5516 includes $233 million in state funds for capital construction at state universities and colleges. The amount is double what the state provided for similar projects in the last biennium.
750 more students
Construction for phase one of the center — an 80,000-square-foot building — started last year. The bond is intended to match $12 million raised locally to complete the project’s second phase. Construction on the second phase was scheduled to start in 2008. The new center is expected to add 750 students and 19 faculty members to the campus.
Kulongoski has supported the facility and included its funding in his recommended budget. However, co-chairs of the Ways and Means committee, state Sen. Kurt Schrader, D-Canby, and state Rep. Mary Nolan, D-Portland, cut funding for higher education capital projects in their recommended budget. Klamath County legislators have worked since that time to restore funding for the project.
Full amount in doubt
OIT officials heard Thursday that the school might not receive the fully requested amount for the bond. Provost and acting OIT president David Woodall said that without the full $9 million, school officials would have to look at what construction could be completed and the building would not be to the planned capacity.
-- Ty Beaver
 |
||
| Goats raise stink on California Avenue |
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of HeraldAndNews.com. Comment Disclaimer: The editors of heraldandnews.com reserve the right to refuse publication of any comment posted for consideration. We may refuse for any reason, including use of profanity, disparaging comments, libelous comments, etc. Any reader who notices a comment they believe is particularly offensive, should notify us at webmaster@heraldandnews.com.
RSS
Austin wrote on Feb 23, 2009 2:12 AM:
Hi,
Drugs not only effects the person who is taking it, but it also
effects the people around him.
Alcoholism Information "