News
June 17, 2004
Contact: Lorna Sutton, Director of Communications, SBCTC, 360-704-4310
Two-year college board to consider $470 million capital budget request for 2005-07
OLYMPIA – The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges will consider an unprecedented request for a $470 million biennial budget for facilities at Washington’s 34 public two-year colleges when it meets in Renton Wednesday and Thursday, June 23-24.
If approved by the board, the request will be submitted to the governor and the 2005 Legislature. The college system requested $457 million in 2003-05 and, including supplemental capital funding, received almost $430 million for the biennium.
“Our colleges need to have facilities that are equipped to provide 21st century education and training,” said Earl Hale, the State Board’s executive director. “That means renovating and replacing outdated buildings and upgrading the infrastructure on our campuses.”
The $470 million request for 2005-07 would replace aging buildings and renovate space to accommodate the technology required in today’s classrooms and labs. It would also expand facilities to make room for the record numbers of students already attending the colleges and the demand expected in the next decade.
Enrollment is projected to continue escalating as the number of high school graduates grows and more students choose two-year colleges to begin their bachelor’s degrees, pursue workforce training or gain basic skills. More than 485,000 students enrolled statewide in the 2002-03 academic year.
“This budget request was developed with careful attention to the role and mission of the colleges and a detailed analysis of enrollment projections,” Hale said. “The capital projects we are requesting are the top priorities of the two-year college system and will position us to better serve students and prepare the workers needed for a healthy economy in this state.”
The budget proposal, which was developed by the presidents of the 34 colleges in collaboration with the State Board, includes major new construction at six campuses: Bates Technical College South Campus and Edmonds, Everett, Green River, Tacoma and Walla Walla community colleges.
Major replacements projects are requested for Lower Columbia College, Peninsula College, South Seattle Community College, Spokane Falls Community College, Wenatchee Valley College and Yakima Valley Community College.
The priority list also includes a variety of renovation projects and infrastructure improvements; funds to design and predesign future major construction, renovation and replacement projects; and repairs and minor improvements for all of the campuses. In addition, 13 colleges are seeking state funds to match locally raised funds for special college construction projects.
The board will also hear an update on the upper-division capacity study, an effort to quantify where more capacity is needed to serve two-year college transfer students seeking four-year degrees. The study is focusing on the types of degree programs in demand and the geographic areas where demand is greatest, among other issues.
Funds for adult and family literacy programs, workforce education and WorkFirst (welfare reform) programs will also be allocated to the colleges at this meeting.
The board will meet in a study session Wednesday from 1 to 5:15 p.m. and in regular session Thursday from 8:15 to 11:20 a.m. at Renton Technical College, 3000 NE 4th Street. The meetings will be in Room 111 of the Technology Resource Center. The board will also have a dinner meeting Wednesday evening with members of the Renton Technical College Board of Trustees. All sessions are open to the public.
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The meeting agenda and background materials are posted on the State Board Web site at: http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/general/a_board/. View a chart showing capital budget requests by college.
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