Lawmakers approved state capital budget measures this week that would fund the planning and construction of various university projects - projects officials said will help propel this university as a leading world-class research institution.
The final version of the capital budget – which totals about $1.1 billion – appropriates millions of dollars in state funds to university initiatives that include implementing a new teaching and learning center and the construction of a new bioengineering building. Although the budget isn’t yet final – lawmakers have to reconcile differences between the House of Delegates and Senate versions of the budget before it makes its way to Gov. Martin O’Malley’s desk – university officials are lauding the tentative capital budget.
“The state is looking at the university as a valuable entity that they want to support,” University System of Maryland Capital Planning Director Mark Beck said.
University officials said they were especially pleased with state lawmakers commitment to supporting the funding of new amenities. The tentative budget allocates $2 million to fund a teaching and learning center – a proposed $63 million center that would be the first campus building in 50 years that would solely be dedicated to classroom space – which also received a $10 million gift from Baltimore developer Edward St. John in September.
“We appreciate very much that the state has stepped up to the plate,” Provost Ann Wylie said. “[The teaching and learning center] will provide much- needed lecture hall space; we have a lack of classrooms.”
To make room for the learning center, the Shriver Laboratory will be torn down and part of Holzapfel Hall will be renovated. Wylie added that the university has been trying to secure funding for the center for more than 20 years.
Despite university officials’ praise of the capital budget’s higher education commitment, some lawmakers, including Del. Andrew Serafini (R-Washington), said the budget spends too much money at one time when the state is grappling with a deficit of more than $1 billion.
“We’ve borrowed too much in the last couple years and we exceeded recommended limits,” he said. “We need to slow down a bit; we can’t afford to do this.”
In addition to the learning center and the bioengineering building, the capital budget expends $29.5 million to help complete construction of the physical sciences complex – a nearly $130 million building slated to be completed in fall 2013 – as well as $10 million for infrastructure improvements and $435,000 for a remote library storage location.
University lobbyist Ross Stern said infrastructure funding was particularly important in revitalizing crumbling buildings on the campus.
“The state has recognized that College Park has a huge problem with infrastructure,” he said. “We’re pleased the state is doing that.”
Additionally, O’Malley approved all capital budget recommendations by the university system, which will help ensure the projects are seen through.
“The projects that we requested system-wide were intact,” he said. “That’s one of the first years we haven’t had something fall by the wayside.”
Beck said he was even more pleased that both chambers of the General Assembly added more system-wide projects to the capital budget on top of initial recommendations.
“Most of the discussion about differences is happening on a level above where we started,” Beck said. “Both houses enhanced the budget with additional projects.”
University President Wallace Loh declined to comment on capital budget matters until the final version of the budget is passed.
bach@umdbk.com
