Curators approve list of top priorities
The UM system Board of Curators voted unanimously Friday to request $261.5 million from the state in the next legislative session for top-priority facility projects, according to board documents. The board deemed $34 million of the request critical.
The university also composed a list of second-priority projects requiring $160 million in capital funding and a third-priority list that would require $107 million.
Projects in the top-priority list include $50.4 million from the state to renovate Lafferre Hall, according to board documents. $77.7 million for construction of a performing arts center is a second-priority request and $34.3 million to renovate Strickland Hall fell under the third-priority list.
UM system President Gary Forsee said the board should not be shy about recognizing the university’s fiscal needs.
“The state revenue forecast is going to require us to continue to be vigilant with our programs and expenditures,” Forsee said in the board's teleconference meeting Friday.
Forsee also said the state should release money for projects pending construction, such as the Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, before spending money on newer projects.
The moving and expansion of the center was included in the projects deemed critical by the board. Other critical projects include maintenance and repairs in need of immediate attention, said Nikki Krawitz, UM system vice president for finance and administration.
The university also requested an additional $67 million from the state for general operations which would in part fund compensation increases and help adjust for enrollment growth. Operations requests were 14.8 percent more than last year according to board documents.
UM system spokeswoman Jennifer Hollingshead said the capital funding requested by the board Friday are separate from the projects funded by $332 million in bonds the university issued last week.